asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement concerning the explosion on Saturday, 24 February 1979 in County Armagh in connection with which four persons have been arrested by the Garda authorities in County Monaghan.
Written Answers. - County Armagh Explosion.
174.
Since the incident occurred outside the State, I assume that the Deputy does not actually expect me to make a statement about it, as his question suggests, and that what he intends to ask about is the matter of any Garda investigations arising from it.
I would refer the Deputy to replies which I gave to questions from him on 11 October 1978 and 14 February 1979, in which I pointed out that it was not the practice for Ministers for Justice to make statements about individual crimes that are under investigation by the Garda.
On those two occasions the Deputy sought statements in relation to incidents that occurred in the State. It will be clear that if it is not the practice for Ministers for Justice to make statements in relation to Garda investigations regarding incidents occurring within the State, it would be even more inappropriate to comment on any investigations that might be made arising from an incident occurring outside the State.