asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the Government's position regarding the British Nationality Bill.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers - British Nationality Bill.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state whether his attention has been directed to Press reports of a debate in the British House of Lords on the British Nationality Bill; and, if so, whether he will state what agreement or compromise was come to between the Government of Ireland and the British Government concerning the measure; further, if he will state the present attitude of the Government of Ireland to the changes in the measure made by the British House of Lords.
With the Ceann Comhairle's permission, I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together. As the Bill is still under consideration in the British Parliament, I prefer not to make any detailed statement with regard to it at this stage, beyond saying that the Bill, as amended, is wholly contrary to our conception of nationality and must inevitably lead to an aggravated conflict of nationality law between Ireland and Britain.
I sincerely trust that the amendments proposed in the British House of Lords will not be passed. The views of the Irish Government on the matter are already well known to the British authorities.
Will the Minister say whether his attention has been directed to an article in to-day's Irish Press on this particular subject, and if so, whether he has any comment to make on that article? Will he say also whether he thinks it desirable that ex-members of the Government should refer in newspaper articles to confidential Government information?
With regard to the first matter raised by the Deputy, my attention was drawn to two articles in to-day's Irish Press. These articles contain statements that are completely incorrect and misleading. I also feel that I should state that it is a completely wrong practice that confidential documents on diplomatic matters which were within the knowledge of ex-Ministers or ex-officers of the Government should be referred to in newspaper articles, and if the practice is not discontinued I shall ask the Attorney-General to take steps in the matter.
Would the Minister say what statement in these articles was incorrect and what confidential documents were referred to?
In the article, which is unsigned, appearing on page 4 of to-day's Irish Press, there is a review of various matters connected with the Nationality Bill at present before the British Parliament. The article deals with three different objections. In regard to the third of these objections the article says:—
"The obligation provisions affecting Irish citizenship everywhere, inside as well as outside of Ireland, remain unaltered as the Bill has left the House of Lords for consideration by the Commons."
That is untrue. These provisions were amended in the House of Lords on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor and as a result of representations made, not before the 18th February, but since.
Will the Minister say what confidential documents are quoted in the articles.
Are you not using them every day in the week in the Irish Press?
"The draft Bill before issue was submitted to the Irish Government for its observations and these were communicated to the British Government by Mr. de Valera in an aide memoire.”
Continue. Read the next sentence.
Unless the writer of the article had access to private and secret information he could not have made that statement.
Was it not public knowledge that this aide memoire existed? Was not the House informed of it?
The House was not informed.
I hope that the Minister does not keep the Attorney-General too busy with that information.
They have no shame.
I think the reply might be left to the Minister.