§ 20. Sir John Farrasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current security situation.
§ Mr. Tom KingI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor) earlier today.
§ Sir John FarrCan my right hon. Friend assure the House that essential repair work to police stations and the building of new prisons will not be held up in the Province because of terrorist activities? If necessary, will he get the job completed on time by bringing in labour contractors from the mainland?
§ Mr. KingWe are determined to ensure that terrorist intimidation does not triumph, and we shall be anxious to take every practicable step that we can to ensure that proper attention is given to the restoration of necessary protection, where it has been damaged or destroyed, and that it is carried out as effectively as possible. My hon. Friend will not expect me to go into details, but we are most anxious to ensure that that happens.
§ Mr. DalyellHow is it that Senator Noonan, the Irish Minister for Justice, could tell a huge American audience about a major and substantial role for Dublin in the day-to-day running of Northern Ireland? Have not different things been said to different people on the same subject, and is this not a geological flaw in the agreement?
§ Mr. KingThe great beauty is that after all the words have been said there is an agreement, which speaks for itself and makes the position clear.