HC Deb 06 May 1988 vol 132 cc619-20W
Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions, in each year from 1973 to the current date, members of the armed forces on duty have crossed into the Irish Republic.

Mr. Freeman

[holding answer 26 April 1988]From records held, the number of occasions when members of Her Majesty's armed forces on duty have crossed into the Republic of Ireland by year since 1982 is as follows. The figures include crossings both on land and in the air. Records of such occasions prior to 1982 are not available.

Year Number
1982 45
1983 31
1984 31
1985 27
1986 50
1987 55
11988 11
1 As at 27 April 1988.

On the vast majority of occasions the border was crossed as a result of navigational errors; these incidents were notified to the Irish Government. On the remaining occasions, the border was crossed with the agreement of the Irish Government.