asked the Taoiseach if the Government has considered the serious implications of the proposed visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth of England to our six north-eastern counties and if any protest against the visit has yet been, or will be, made by the Government to the British Government.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Princess's Visit.
The Government's views on the Partition of our country, which are, of course, identical with the views of all Parties in this House and of the overwhelming majority of the Irish people, have been frequently stated and are well known to the British Government. The proposed visit by a member of the British Royal Family to the Six Counties is merely incidental to the general problem of Partition, and feelings of resentment against the visit on the part of the Irish people arise out of the existence of that problem. In the Government's opinion, it would not be helpful towards the solution of the problem to make the visit the subject of a protest to the British Government.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the sense of resentment and indignation felt by all sections of the Irish people at the visit of a representative of the power which criminally occupies portion of our territory is greatly intensified by the recent gratuitous and insulting endorsement given by the British Government in the so-called Ireland Bill to the anti-democratic Fascist system under which our people in the Six Counties are compelled to live, and would the Taoiseach in those circumstances consider apprising the British Government through their representative here of that fact?
All Parties in the House are fully, appreciative of the resentment that exists on the lines that the Deputy suggested. I merely want to underline that while every method will be availed of to end Partition, we feel that there is a growing volume of opinion both in the six north-eastern counties and amongst the decent people in Great Britain in favour of the ending of Partition. We wish to mobilise and make more vocal that growing volume of opinion and we feel that the interposition of any matter connected with the British Royal Family would not be helpful. It is for that reason we do not intend to make a protest.
Will the Taoiseach agree that the subject matter of this question pales into insignificance in the light of recent events?