(An Clár) asked the Minister for Justice if he will state (a) the number of Gárda recently sent to Kilrush, County Clare, and the reason for increasing the strength of the force already in that town; (b) whether all the Gárda are accommodated in the Gárda Barracks, and, if not, where accommodation is provided for them; (c) if he is aware of the existence of a labour dispute in the town for a considerable time past, and if he will state why members of the Gárda should find accommodation in property owned by a party to the dispute; (d) if he has issued instructions to the Gárda in Kilrush and district with a view to seeing that every person carrying on a trade by motor or lorry through the villages and rural areas in that district has the necessary licences and per mits required by law to carry on such trade, and, if not, will he have such instructions issued without delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral—Answers. - Gárda in Kilrush.
In my opinion, it would not be in the public interest to give by way of answer in this House some of the information asked for in this question, such as the number of Gárda recently sent to Kilrush and the premises in which the Gárda are accommodated. As to the existence of a "labour dispute" in Kilrush, I can only say that I am aware of what has happened; as to whether it is aptly described by the term "labour dispute" I express no opinion.
There is, unfortunately, no doubt that a dispute of some sort is in progress in Kilrush and that it has been accompanied by numerous acts of violence, in which firearms and bombs have been used.
Since last October there have been at least ten serious crimes or attempts at crime and over fifty civil actions arising out of the dispute.
The position is regarded as very serious and it has been necessary to add largely to the number of Gárda normally stationed in the town. So far as I am aware, the Gárda are not accommodated on premises owned by a party to the dispute, but I am not to be understood as giving any guarantee that they will not be so accommodated if that step is found necessary or convenient.
I have not issued any such instructions as are referred to in paragraph (d) of the question, but I understand from the police reports that the Gárda are alive to the importance of this aspect of the matter. If the Deputy has any information which would be useful to the Gárda in the matter I shall be glad if he will communicate it to me.