asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a new security arrangement is being considered by the British and Irish Governments to allow for the RUC and Garda Síochána to operate on both sides of the Border, as proposed by the Deputy Leader of the SDLP, Séamus Mallon (details supplied) in the wake of the Gibson murders; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

No such arrangement is being considered.

Is the Minister confirming that a security arrangement of this nature has not been discussed within the Anglo-Irish Conference?

No. There is no question of that being considered at all. We considered a number of matters and that was not one of them.

Does the Minister disagree with the views expressed by the Deputy Leader of the SDLP, Séamus Mallon, to the effect that something that could make sense in the wake of the Gibson murders would be an arrangement whereby the RUC and the Garda Síochána would operate on both sides of the Border?

That raises a lot of implications. I propose when I meet my good friend Séamus Mallon in the very near future to raise this matter with him but certainly this has not been considered at the Irish Government level or the British Government level. It has not arisen at all at any meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference.

In the wake of the Gibson murders, will the Minister say if he has been informed whether the invetigation by the British authorities has been completed?

I gather their investigation is continuing and I want to emphasise that it is their investigation.