HC Deb 19 February 1976 vol 905 cc1465-7
2. Mr. Townsend

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any plans to increase co-operation between the North and the South across the border.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

I refer the hon. Member to the statement that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made on 12th January 1976.—[Vol. 903, c. 29.] Progress made at my meeting with Mr. Cooney on 8th January is being urgently followed up by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Garda Siochana, and both Governments are making determined efforts to deal with terrorists and to increase the substantial co-operation which already exists.

Mr. Townsend

Why does the Secretary of State not take a much firmer line with the Government in Dublin and press them, in public in particular, to have parallel military patrols on both sides of the border, a one-mile strip for hot pursuits on both sides, and improved over-flying rights?

Mr. Rees

We talk a great deal with the Government of the South. Indeed, since a year last September, when I had a constructive meeting with Mr. Cooney, co-operation has greatly improved, technically. It would ill-become the United Kingdom Government to insist to the Government of an idependent country that co-operation be improved when the co-operation that we get is good. It could be improved, and we are all the time working to see that there is improvement, to get more of the excellent results, concerning explosives, that we have had in recent weeks.

Mr. McCusker

Was the Secretary of State consulted regarding the visit, this weekend, of the all-party deputation to the Republic led by the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Defence? As these deputations are normally taken on a tour of the border, which always seems to show up our security forces in a bad light—as was made clear by the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith)—is not that a singularly inappropriate thing to do?

Mr. Rees

I was not consulted about that visit. If I had thought that it was a bad thing, I could have said so. However, I regard it as excellent that right hon. and hon. Members from both sides of the House should go to the South. If they go to the border, no doubt they will come back with extra knowledge of the matter. Extra knowledge of Irish affairs is always welcome in this House.