Vol. 493 No. 3
159 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make representations to the Northern Ireland authorities with a view to having the ramps on the Northern side of the Border between Lifford and Strabane removed. [15849/98]
I assume the Deputy is referring to the security installations at the permanent vehicle checkpoint at the "Camel's Hump" in Strabane.
The consistent position of the Government has been that permanent vehicle checkpoints in Border areas should be removed as soon as possible and we have pursued this with the British authorities within the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. In response to recent inquiries within that framework, I am advised that the British authorities do not intend to remove the ramps in question at the moment.
The Deputy will, however, be aware that in the British-Irish Agreement the British Government committed itself to make progress towards the objective of as early a return as possible to normal security arrangements in Northern Ireland and to publish an overall security strategy dealing, inter alia, with the removal of security installations. The British Government also committed itelf to regular consultations with the Government on progress in this regard.
In this context, I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to urge upon the British authorities the importance of the early removal of such installations, including those at the "Camel's Hump".
