Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Northern Ireland Police Presence.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

6 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether both the Irish and UK Governments are fully committed to and jointly accept the principle that the armed forces, including the UDR operate only in support of the civil power in Northern Ireland; whether both Governments are fully committed to ensuring that, save in the most exceptional circumstances, there is a police presence in all operations which involve direct contact with the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

John Bruton

Ceist:

43 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether, he sought a repudiation of the statement reportedly made last week at a meeting of the Anglo-Irish Parliamentary Body by the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, claiming to speak for the Northern Ireland Office, that commitments in the communique issued with the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985 to the early implementation of the agreement, specifically in this instance the early implementation of Article 7c of the agreement through the application of the principle of accompaniment, save in the most exceptional circumstances, of the armed forces in Northern Ireland by the RUC on occasions when they are likely to come in contact with the community, are not under the agreement binding international obligations.

Mr. Collins

I propose to take Priority Question No. 6 and Question No. 43 together.

Both Governments are fully committed to the principle, enunciated in the Hillsborough communique, that the armed forces — which include the Ulster Defence Regiment — operate only in support of the civil power in Northern Ireland.

The Irish Government attach very great importance to the application of this principle with the particular objective, as set out in the Hillsborough communique, "of ensuring as rapidly as possible that save in the most exceptional circumstances there is a police presence in all operations which involve direct contact with the community".

The British Government have reaffirmed their commitment to the principle of police accompaniment of army and UDR operations which involve direct contact with the community. They have pointed, moreover, to progress which has been achieved in increasing actual levels of accompaniment in certain areas. However, they have indicated also that a number of practical, logistical or resource constraints made it impossible to guarantee a continuous police accompaniment in all areas. As I stated to the House as recently as 7 November, I have made clear to the Secretary of State that I do not regard the current position as satisfactory. The Irish Government hold firmly to the objective of ensuring that the principle of accompaniment is seen to be implemented fully in line with the commitments which have been made at the highest level in the Hillsborough communique, and on many other occasions subsequently, and I shall be pursuing this issue at future meetings of the Anglo-Irish Conference.

I understand the statement referred to by Deputy Bruton was made at a private meeting of the British-Irish Inter-parliamentary Body which took place on 3 December and that it was strongly contest by others present, including both Irish and British parliamentarians. Remarks by members of the body meeting in private sessions are a matter for themselves. No report on this or any other private meeting has been communicated by the body to the Government, and it would not be appropriate for the Government to seek to intervene in the affairs of the body.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

I accept that the meeting of the British-Irish Inter-parliamentary Body — at which I was present — was in private session so I am referring only to the newspaper reports rather than to what occurred. Would the Minister confirm that contrary to what Mr. Ken Hind, MP, the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Secretary of State, Mr. Peter Brooke, is reported as having said there is a binding international obligation between Ireland and the United Kingdom in relation to the principle of accompaniment?

Mr. Collins

Irrespective of what may be in any newspaper report, or it being the source of this supplementary question from Deputy O'Keeffe, let me say quite categorically that it is the view of the Government that the solemn guarantee given at the highest possible political level in the Hillsborough communique is binding and must be respected.

Mr. J. O'Keeffe

I am very pleased with the Minister's response on accompaniment because this is exactly what I wanted to have put on record. At the next meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference will the Minister ensure that he takes up this issue with Mr. Peter Brooke in order to clear up any confusion about the matter?

Mr. Collins

I refer the Deputy to all communiques that have appeared and are in the public domain after all meetings of the Anglo-Irish Conference, particularly to the very first, which was attended by Deputy Peter Barry, and every one since then. This matter has at all times been on the agenda of the Anglo-Irish Conference meetings and will continue to be on it until such time as solemn assurances given will be given effect to.