Demilitarisation of the Border Region

2. Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan): To ask the Taoiseach to outline both the steps taken by the Irish Government to reverse the militarisation of the Border region, including the dismantling of checkpoints and spyposts and other obstructive military structures, some of which have actually been reinforced during the peace process and the commitments, if any, he has secured from the British Prime Minister in relation to demilitarisation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin welcomed the Taoiseach and the Members of the Body to County Cavan. He acknowledged the opening of cross-Border roads and, in particular, the ongoing works to open Aughalane Bridge. He gave credit to the communities affected by the closures and who campaigned for their reopening; the roads should never have been closed because their closure served no purpose in preventing armed activity. He asked the Taoiseach to agree that the deployment of the British armed forces has been a source of conflict and that it should be recognised that the threat came from all engaged in armed actions-which must include the British armed forces. Recent exposure of British Army collusion in the killing of Nationalists in the North required an international judicial inquiry and he asked the Taoiseach to seek that an inquiry be established. He stressed the intrusive impact of the British military presence at the Border for the residents of the region.

The Taoiseach said that his Government had regularly raised the issue of the security forces in the Border region through the Intergovernmental Conference-most recently on 5 March. He was aware of the impact of military installations and their associated activities on the local communities and one goal of the talks process was to try to de-escalate of security measures in order to reinforce a widely-acceptable political settlement. He accepted the need for vigilance in response to the threat from groups, like the LVF and the Continuity Army Council, but felt that security needed to be balanced with the wider imperative of establishing a normal peaceful society as soon as possible.

He welcomed the relaxation of certain security measures since the IRA cease-fire last June. He was, however, aware of considerable local concern at the observation towers in south Armagh, the high levels of helicopter activity in east Tyrone and south Armagh and the obtrusive security presence in parts of Belfast and elsewhere. The utmost sensitivity was required from all elements of the security forces, consistent with the fullest possible protection of both communities; after Christmas, many of the elements which had been relaxed had to be quickly put back in place because of the security situation. He looked forward to further de-escalatory measures and would raise with the British authorities the matters to which Mr McNamara referred.

Mr Charles Flanagan accepted that there was a difficulty over the de-escalation of military activity, given that since Christmas there have been 16 deaths and numerous acts of terrorism. He referred to the lack of public discussion of the issue of punishment beatings and the lack of condemnation of them from the talks process. He asked the Taoiseach to encourage those at the talks to make a public condemnation and dissociation from such horrific acts.

The Taoiseach utterly condemned punishment beatings of all forms and by all persons. There had been many victims, and the organisation representing them which visited the Oireachtas to convey the horror of the experiences. He gave credit to the Secretary of State, Dr. Mowlam, for examining new forms of involving the community and seeking to involve community policing co-operation. The work was under way, but would not reach fruition unless there was a reform of policing. Many people in the communities in the North were horrified by punishment beatings and, though policing was probably the bigger issue, punishment beatings had to stop.