asked the Minister for Defence if the arms recently taken from the Army depot at Dundalk were kept under guard.
74.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dundalk Arms Raid: F.C.A. Arms Stores.
73.
asked the Minister for Defence if the arms and equipment on issue to An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil which are stored at army depots or other places are kept under guard.
With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions 73 and 74 together.
In the case of unoccupied military locations such as Dundalk Barracks, it has not been the practice to keep arms and equipment on issue to An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil under armed guard.
In view of the integration of An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil with the Defence Forces, does the Minister not consider it desirable, in order to avoid incidents such as that which occurred in Dundalk, that equipment should be kept under guard?
There are obvious practical difficulties. The training of the F.C.A. requires that the weapons in which they are expected to become proficient should be available locally. There are so few military barracks occupied that the question of providing guards is obviously a difficult one. However, an inquiry is being held into the occurrence to which the Deputy refers. It may be that other security arrangements will have to be taken.