asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state (a) the title or status of the representative of this country recently appointed to Australia; and (b) if he will place the Letters of Credence or of Appointment of this representative on the Table of Dáil Éireann.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Diplomatic Representative in Australia.
The full official title of our Minister in Australia is "Minister Plenipotentiary Representative of Ireland in Australia". As I have already explained to other Deputies, there is an objection to the publication of individual Letters of Credence.
On the last occasion the Taoiseach mentioned the objection that arose to publishing Letters of Credence addressed to us by foreign Governments without prior permission from such foreign Governments. Are we to understand now that Letters of Credence addressed in the name of this State to other Governments are not to be revealed to the citizens of this State itself?
I think it is undesirable to have particular individual letters published. The general scheme has been indicated already.
Am I to understand from the Minister for External Affairs that we have reached a stage in which communications are to be addressed to foreign Governments or to fellow-members of the Commonwealth in our name, the terms of which are to be withheld from the citizens of this country on whose behalf the Government is speaking?
There are many communications addressed to other States by us in which both Governments are involved.
The people on whose behalf the Minister speaks are not to be informed of the nature of these letters?
Both States are involved in this matter. The Deputy always wants to conduct External Affairs from the market-place. We cannot do it that way.
Does the Minister lay down the principle that he is now in a position to address a letter to external authorities in the name of the Irish people and to deny the Irish people the right to know what he has said on their behalf? If he lays down that principle, it is an entirely new principle.
It is not laid down.
Will the Taoiseach say whether this is not the first occasion on which a representative has been accredited to a member of the Commonwealth under the title which he now mentions, and would he not consider that in these circumstances members of the Oireachtas should have permission to see these Letters of Credence?
As I have said, there is an objection to publishing individual Letters of Credence, but if it is the general form that is required, there will be no objection to giving the general form.
If this is the first occasion on which an appointment in these particular terms has been made and if it is the intention to pursue this type of appointment in future is it not desirable that we should have the information asked for in this case?
I shall try to meet the Deputy's position by giving the general scheme later.
When?
As soon as I find it possible.
Will the Taoiseach put it on the Table of the House?
Yes, in the same way as the others.