§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will have discussions with the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland at their next weekly meeting to ensure that the Army is prepared to give hot pursuit to terrorists attempting to seek the safety of the Republic of Ireland after a terrorist incident in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsThe Irish Republic is an independent sovereign state and its territory may not be entered by the security forces as part of their antiterrorist operations. I have, however, 723W regular contacts with the Chief Constable and the GOC Northern Ireland about matters of security policy, and I hope shortly to have an opportunity of discussing issues of cross-border security co-operation in the broadest way with the Irish Government.