Vol. 536 No. 2
172 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Defence if any reported incidents involving soldiers on duty during the foot and mouth disease crisis in Border areas had been brought to his attention; if any notification has been drawn to his attention where soldiers without armed weapons in their possession were on duty with gardaí; the circumstances under which soldiers on duty may present themselves without armed weapons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13576/01]
I am advised by the military authorities that two incidents have been reported by Defence Forces personnel on duty in the Border area in connection with the foot and mouth disease operation.
At 3 a.m. on 26 February 2001, a civilian car drove through the checkpoint at the Border crossing at Frevagh Bridge, County Leitrim, from the northern side of the Border. It drove around the village of Kiltyclogher, County Leitrim, and exited to the north at the Border crossing to the east of the village.
At various hours during the night of 7 March 2001, civilian cars approached the checkpoint at the Border crossing at Munnilly Bridge, County Monaghan. The occupants shouted abuse and behaved in a belligerent manner. The Garda has indicated that both incidents were hooligan related and that it is pursuing the matter with the Northern authorities.
The foot and mouth disease operation is an aid to the civil authority operation, with assistance being provided by the Defence Forces as a result of a request from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Defence Forces personnel engaged in this operation are authorised officers for the purposes of section 17A(2) of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966, as amended by the Diseases of Animals (Amendment) Act, 2001. Arms are not carried by the members of the Defence Forces in aid to the civil authority operations.
