Vol. 567 No. 1
222 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the crossing of the Border between south Armagh and Louth by two British army Lynx helicopters on the morning of 13 May; and if he will ascertain the particular interest the British army has in the Hackballscross area in view of the fact that a similar incursion took place in the same part of County Louth last week. [13453/03]
The Government regards unauthorised incursions by British security forces into the State as a serious matter. On each occasion an incident is reported to my Department the matter is raised with the British Government. I directed that the alleged incident be raised with the British authorities through the British-Irish intergovernmental secretariat. They indicated that no British military aircraft crossed the Border into this jurisdiction on the day in question.
With regard to the unauthorised incursion alleged to have taken place on 6 May, I informed the House on 13 May that the British authorities are satisfied that no such incursion took place.
