John Gormley
Question:120 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on a referendum on Ireland's participation in the Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26357/98]
Vol. 498 No. 1
120 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on a referendum on Ireland's participation in the Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26357/98]
121 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is his intention that Ireland will join the NATO led Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26358/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 121 together.
I set out my views on the issue of Ireland's participation in the Partnership for Peace in reply to a question in this House on 5 November, and in an article in The Irish Times on Saturday, 28 November 1998.
I am keeping the issue of Irish participation in PFP under close and active review. My intention at this stage is quite clear. It is to try to enhance understanding and informed discussion of the realities of PFP and also to move discussion away from the polarised views and slogans which seemed to me to characterise a good deal of such discussion as there has been about PFP, on either side of the argument.