asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will make the strongest representations to the British Government to prevent any further incursions by their forces across the Border.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Border Incursions.
15.
Representations were made to the British authorities when such border infringements were reported to the Ministers for Justice and Defence. I have been assured that these incursions were accidental and caused by faulty map reading. As a result of these representations stringent instructions have been re-issued to the British troops.
Is the Minister aware that the faulty map reading occured at the same places, in Claddy between Donegal and Tyrone and at Ballymaconnell between Fermanagh and Cavan on three different occasions following earlier representations, and that we must assume they are not errors but that they are deliberate incursions?
As I told the Deputy there have been stringent instructions issued to the troops now in response to my representations.
Could the Minister say how many times incursions have taken place since there has been an increase in the number of British troops last year? Is there any record of the times?
There is a record. However, the number of times that it happens is not the main point; it is the fact that it happens at all.
Would the Minister agree it is surprising that he has not a record of incursions——
We have.
——since half of the Cabinet have been involved in plots to go on the other side of the Border?
Nobody in the Cabinet except myself has had any plan to go across the Border.