asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to Press reports that two British Army helicopters landed in County Donegal; and the action, if any, that has been taken in relation to this incursion.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - British Army Helicopters.
3.
I am aware of the Press reports alleging incursions by British Army helicopters near Carrigans in County Donegal on 6th March. I can assure the Deputy that, as is customary, the matter was raised with the British authorities who have said that while they had two helicopters in the general area at the time neither crossed the Border at any stage. It is possible that either the ground eye witnesses or the pilots made a minor error as to the precise location of the helicopters.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary indicate if at any stage any Minister gave permission to the British Army to overfly our territory?
I cannot give the Deputy that information. The Deputy's question refers to a particular incident. I know a bit more about that but I do not know if, in general, permissions were sought or granted.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say if they got permission at any stage?
I cannot say that.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary inform the House at some stage if any Minister has given permission to overfly our territory?
That is worthy of a separate question.
I think a general question to the Minister would get that information quickly enough.
We hear a lot about incursions along the Border area. Apparently the British Army are bad at map-reading because on occasions in the past when there was an incursion we were told it was due to an error in map-reading. Will the Parliamentary Secretary find out if there were such incursions recently because of such errors and if any permission was granted to the British authorities to overfly our territory?
I am relying on memory now and I do not want to be held on this, but I think I remember the Minister, in reply to similar questions, saying that permissions were occasionally sought beforehand. That would not be counted as an incursion and it would not be reported as such if a British or any other aircraft flew over our territory. There are occasionally reports of incursions and they are always taken up with the British authorities. There have been a small number this year so far— roughly the same as last year. Some of them have been admitted and an apology has been made and some are in dispute.
Is it correct that permission has been given in the past?
My memory is to the effect that the Minister said something on those lines in answer to similar questions but I do not want to bind him with that recollection.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say what is the difference between giving permission for flights over our territory and permission for incursions on the ground? Have the ground forces received permission to cross at any stage?
The Deputy is raising other matters.
I never heard of any such thing.
I am calling the next question.
Questions Nos. 4 to 9, inclusive, postponed.
Question No. 10 for written answer.