asked the Minister for Defence if the Army authorities sought the aid of British Army helicopters for patrol duty; and if he is aware of the damaging effect which their intervention could have on Army moral.
13.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - British Army Patrols.
12.
asked the Minister for Defence if the British Army authorities requested him to permit troops to cross into the Twenty-six Counties on patrol duty; and, if so, if he will give details.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.
The reply to the first part of each of the questions is "No" and the second parts do not, therefore, arise.
I take it that the Minister has said that the Irish Army authorities had not sought the aid of British Army helicopters. May I take it that the Minister took it upon himself to bring British Army helicopters in here? He has it on record that there was no request from the Army authorities, that they did not need them. This is a terrible slur on our Army and it is very bad for morale in the Army. I would like the Minister to comment on that, please. If this is to be the procedure in future, it is a disgrace, shocking.
Sin ceist eile.
Sin ceist a 12.
The question I was asked was whether or not our Army authorities sought the aid of British Army helicopters for patrol duty. The answer to that is categorically "No".
The Minister stated in the newspapers of 17th September that he had given permission to allow British Army helicopters to fly over the Border into the South.
The Deputy must——
I am entitled to ask that. Can the Minister explain why he did that? Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, with your permission I will raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
Am I entitled to ask a supplementary question? May I ask the Minister, in relation to the incident referred to by Deputy Meaney, why one of our own Army helicopters was not available or was not used if it was available for the purposes concerned?
That is an absolutely separate question. I have been asked if our Army authorities sought the aid of British Army helicopters for patrol duty. The answer to that question is categorically "No".
Is the Minister unwilling or unable——
He is ashamed.
He is afraid.
The Minister will answer what questions he is asked.
Is my question relevant or not? May I ask the Minister by what authority he invited foreign troops on active service into our territory? Under what legal authority did he act?
The Deputy is quite aware that he is asking a separate question which has no bearing whatever on Question No. 12.
Question No. 14.
I can categorically say to him for the good of the country that he is quite wrong and quite irresponsible.
Quite wrong in what?
In view of the fact that the answer is "No" to the question here, that the Army did not ask for assistance, then what reason had the Minister to give permission——
If the Deputy wants to ask that question he can put it down.
——as he admitted he did and would do again.
The question I was asked is if the Army authorities sought the aid of the British Army helicopters for patrol duty. The answer is "No" and Fianna Fáil can put all the words they like into my mouth.
On a point of order, I submit that the supplementary questions now being asked of the Minister arise reasonably out of the question that was asked and out of the kind of blunt answer the Minister has given.
Deputy Meaney gave notice that because he was not satisfied he would raise the matter on the Adjournment and the Chair has told him that the Chair will communicate with him.
There are other Deputies involved.
May I point out to the Chair that Question No. 13 is being answered also? Question No. 13 reads:
To ask the Minister for Defence if the British Army authorities requested him to permit troops to cross into the Twenty-six Counties on patrol duty ...
If the answer to that is "No," as the Minister has given us, the supplementary I am now asking is: who requested the Minister to allow British troops into this part of the country?
The answer is that nobody did.
Nobody did? You invited them in off your own bat. Will the Minister give the reason why he invited British troops into this part of the country?
If Fianna Fáil want to say I invited British troops into this part of the country they are doing a grave disservice to this country. They are behaving with great irresponsibility and it has nothing to do with this question.
You said you would do it again.
(Interruptions.)
The Minister has told the House that nobody asked him to allow them in. Why did he allow them in?
We cannot have a debate at Question Time.
If there was a British Army helicopter flying over my house and over the school to which my children go, yesterday and today, was it there with the Minister's permission?
I am not aware that it was there.
Could I ask the Minister whether the reports we read in the paper in regard to this matter are correct, alleging what he said, which would give rise——
That is a separate question. Question No. 14.
Would the Minister not clear the air and tell us why he wants these people in? It is typical of the party to which he belongs.