asked the Minister for External Affairs whether, in order to promote cordial relations with the Parliaments of Commonwealth Nations, he will take such steps as may be practicable to promote the Parliamentary Association (Irish Branch), which caters for Commonwealth Parliaments and the United States Congress, in Oireachtas Éireann, for this purpose.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cordial Relations with Commonwealth Parliaments.
I desire very much to promote the most cordial relations possible with other Parliaments, particularly with the Parliaments of the States of the British Commonwealth and with the Congress of the United States. I do not consider, however, that the Empire Parliamentary Association, in its present title and form, is suitable for that purpose in our case. The word "Empire" does not apply to this country, and, therefore, our participation in an association so entitled would tend to create misunderstanding, both at home and abroad.
Is the Minister aware that the United States of America is not a State member of the British Empire? Is he further aware that the self-governing Dominions of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are not members of the Empire and that at least some of them share our view that that was a bloody and undesirable organisation, and take pride in the fact that they shared with us the task of converting that Empire into a Commonwealth and, in view of the fact that we played no small part in converting an Empire of evil memory into the Commonwealth it is to-day, why does the Taoiseach continue to obstruct the efforts to promote the Parliamentary Association in this Dáil, when it is active in every other Commonwealth Parliament and when it has established friendly relations with the United States Congress?
The Deputy is now making a speech.
I am merely asking a question. I am not making a speech.
That is the opinion of the Chair.
Surely the Minister will tell me? He says the word "Empire" grates upon his ear. Does he recall that neither this country nor the five other States I have mentioned— Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and the United States of America—admit they are members of an Empire, but four of them share membership in the Commonwealth and one is an independent republic on its own? Why is it beneath our dignity to enter into an association into which the United States of America and Canada and the Union of South Africa are prepared to enter?
Does the Chair wish me to reply?
That is a matter for the Taoiseach to decide.
I am not aware that the Congress of the United States is a member of the Empire Parliamentary Association.
Is it associated with it?
As I have said, I am not aware that the Congress of the United States is a member of the Empire Parliamentary Association.
Nobody said it was.
The suggestion was there in the Deputy's statement.
Not at all.
I do not know what the association is of the Congress of the United States. I know there was some arrangement being made by which there would be circulation of some Congress news in a journal of the Empire Parliamentary Association.
Is the Minister not aware that at meetings of the association members of Congress have attended as representing the Houses of Congress, and is he aware that the Union of South Africa, which asserts its membership of the Commonwealth as distinct from Empire, has always been a member of the association and, if it is acceptable to the successors of Botha and de Wet, surely it should be acceptable to even so ardent a patriot as the Minister?
I have only to state that if we were members of the Empire Parliamentary Association it would lead to a misunderstanding which would be undesirable.
Are we not members of the Imperial Institute of Technology? Do we not belong to various Imperial Research Bureaux which come under the Department of Agriculture, and do we not appropriate moneys every year for our subscriptions to these bodies? Does that misrepresent our position, or is it because the Minister is not the big shot in this organisation that he does not want to become a member?
That is not so.
It is the truth.
The Deputy's type of truth.