asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress that has been made in arranging to have Lackey Bridge, Clones, County Monaghan, reopened for public use.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Monaghan Bridge Reopening.
7.
My Department have raised this matter with the British authorities on a number of occasions. Following a meeting with Deputy Conlon and local representatives of Clones on 21 March 1984, the Minister approached the British authorities again, seeking to have Lackey Bridge reopened, stressing the continuing hardship and inconvenience suffered by local people and businesses as a result of the closure and stressing also its doubtful impact in the security area.
As in the past, the British authorities pointed out the security considerations which they see involved, but they indicated that they will re-examine their position in the light of my renewed representations.
We are pursuing the issue with the British authorities and have informed local representatives that we will be in touch with them when a substantive response is received.
Is the Minister aware that members of the social and economic committee of the EEC from about eight member states visited and saw the damage done to that area which has been cut off from trading and commercial life as a result of the blowing up of the bridge in question?
I am not aware of the visit to which the Deputy refers but I know that the closure has seriously affected Clones and its hinterland and I am very concerned about it.
Is the Minister aware that that committee outlined and accepted the damage which had been done? Normal diplomatic relations between the Minister's Department and the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs seem to be useless. It has come to the stage where the Minister for Defence and the army authorities in the North will have to get together and discuss the closure of this bridge with consequent disruption to traffic in the area.
I accept that this problem has been in existence since 1980 when the closure took place. I do not know whether an approach on the lines suggested by the Deputy would bring results but I will look into the matter. Recent approaches have been made at a very high level and it is intended to continue with those approaches in an effort to secure a solution to the problem.
Is the Minister aware that cross-Border committees have been endeavouring for the last ten years to have all possible outlets opened up? The Office of Public Works have told Monaghan County Council that after drainage of the Blackwater, three bridges which were damaged by bombings will not be replaced. The Minister's Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, should examine that very closely because if we proceed on present lines we will have very few outlets into Northern Ireland when normality returns.
The Deputy seems to be trying to convince me but, as far as I am concerned, he is pushing an open door. It is not within my province or that of my Department to have this bridge or other bridges to which he referred opened. However, in relation to Lackey Bridge, very strong and recent representations have been made and, in relation to other problems not covered by this question, full notice is taken of local representations made to us and if we feel we should make a strong case we do so.
I accept that due regard is taken of representations made to him and his Department about such matters. Can the Minister tell us who the Minister for Foreign Affairs approached?
It is customary not to go into detail in this area but I can confirm that approaches have been made at a very high level.
With all due respects, I know as much as if not more about this type of operation than he does having been a very successful occupier——
A question, please, Deputy.
The Minister cannot hide behind that answer. Does the Minister agree that unless the Minister for Foreign Affairs requests a political decision by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Lackey Bridge will remain closed in the same way as Crossmaglen GAA pitch has been ignored because there is always a stock reply from the British Army who have responsibility for security in such matters?
I assure the Deputy that the approach made by us has been at the highest political level and that is as far as I can go.
Was the approach made to Mr. Prior?