Written answers

Wednesday, 29 March 2017

Department of Defence

Defence Forces Deployment

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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38. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans for the reinstatement of troops in the Border counties following the triggering of Article 50 and in view of a hard Border being reintroduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15430/17]

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The UK is expected to trigger Article 50 today. A meeting of the EU 27 Heads of State and Government is scheduled to take place on 29 April to discuss the UK withdrawal. It is expected that formal negotiations will commence in May or June, once the remaining 27 member States reach consensus on the EU's negotiating position. The negotiations themselves can then be expected to take at least two years to complete and all potential consequences in the defence sphere, arising during the negotiations, will remain the subject of ongoing consideration by my Department throughout this process.

As part of a whole of Government approach, my Department is engaged in forward planning for the UK exit from the EU. While the nature of the border will be decided during the course of the negotiations, it is this Government’s stated goal to ensure that the current on-island border arrangements are maintained to the greatest extent possible.

Primary responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. Responsibility for the security aspect of border control rests with An Garda Síochána while the Revenue Commissioners also have responsibilities relating to their particular mandate.

Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Defence Forces also provide support to the Revenue Commissioners. The fact of a UK exit from the EU does not of itself give rise to additional border control requirements at this time.

The Defence Forces at all times keep operational plans under constant review. My priority as Minister with Responsibility for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Army, Air corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. There is ongoing close liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces regarding security matters and regular coordination and liaison meetings take place.

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