asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state the reasons for the delay in announcing that the Irish Minister to France has been withdrawn from the former Vichy Government and accredited to the Government of General de Gaulle.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Minister to France.
There was no undue delay. Communications with our Minister to France were interrupted for some weeks before and after Marshal Pétain's Government had ceased to function. Moreover, it was impossible for the Minister, owing to transport difficulties, to effect the final retransfer of the Legation to Paris until the 27th October. It was obviously more appropriate to make the announcement at the time of his arrival and resumption of duties there.
I think the Taoiseach will appreciate that the notice as it appeared in the Press did seem to indicate that the transfer had been completed in August, but the Press notice was not issued until October. It would, therefore, appear that the citizens of this State had been left in the dark if the transfer had been completed on the date given in the Press notice issued.
The Deputy must remember that certain matters take time from the first step until the end and that when you are going to issue a Press notice you must see that everything has been finished, that is, in this case, that the Minister was in a position to function.
The Press notice was an official one, and gave the impression that the transfer had been completed in August.
It was accurate.
It was the notice itself that was misleading.
It was accurate in its terms.