asked the Taoiseach whether his attention has been directed to press reports of a speech made on 17th February by Professor James Hogan, University College, Cork, regarding statements which he said had been made to him by members of the Government relative to a bargain concerning Partition and adherence to the Atlantic Pact; and, if so, whether he has any statement to make to the Dáil on the matter.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Partition and Atlantic Pact.
I have seen Press reports of Professor Hogan's speech.
Ireland's position in relation to the North Atlantic Treaty was clearly stated in the aide-mémoire which was presented to the United States Minister in Dublin on the 8th February, 1949, and was again made clear in the further aide-mémoire which was presented to the State Department in Washington on the 25th May, 1949. The texts of both of these aide-mémoires are included in a White Paper (P. No. 9934) which was presented to each of the Houses of the Oireachtas on the 26th April, 1950. There has been no change in the Government's views as expressed in those aidemémoires.
Among the Press reports of Professor Hogan's speech, there is only one to which the Deputy's question could conceivably be related, and even that report does not bear out the Deputy's allegation that the speaker said that statements had been made to him by members of the Government relative to a bargain concerning Partition and adherence to the Atlantic Pact.
I need not add that the Government have made no bargain with anybody on the subject of Partition.
Is it not correct that Professor Hogan stated that the Government had decided that they were going to bargain on the question of Partition and that if they would get the Six Counties they were going to adhere to the Atlantic Pact? Did he not say that "he was informed by members of the Government to wait only a few months or at the very most a year and a half, and we were going to get all we wanted and then could ahere to the Pact?" Were such statements made to Professor Hogan by a member of the Government?
None of the statements quoted by the Deputy from his own newspaper bears out the allegation in the Deputy's question that members of the Government made statements to him relative to a bargain concerning Partition and the Atlantic Pact.
Were statements such as Professor Hogan attributed to members of the Government made to him by members of the Government?
The statement on which I was questioned by the Deputy does not bear out the allegation which the Deputy made.
Will the Taoiseach give a straight answer to my question? Was Professor Hogan speaking the truth when he said that these statements were made to him by members of the Government?
The Deputy's question concerns a reported statement by Professor Hogan that statements were made to him by members of the Government to "wait only a few months or the very most a year and a half and we were going to get all we wanted and then could adhere to the pact."
Were such statements made to Professor Hogan by members of the Government?
I cannot tell you. I do not believe they were.
Is it suggested that Professor Hogan was not speaking the truth?
I said nothing of the sort. I am answering the question put to me and I am not going to be cross-examined by the Deputy.