asked the Taoiseach whether his attention has been drawn to the statement by the Tánaiste on the 12th instant that the Government were asking the Irish people in this election to stand behind the Irish Government which was trying to find some way of avoiding the war which was so imminent; what information is at the disposal of the Government to justify the statement that war is imminent; and what steps have been, or are to be taken, by the Government to try to protect the people to the extent that this is possible from the consequences of such war.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imminence of War.
3.
I have seen newspaper reports of the statement by the Tánaiste referred to in the Deputy's Question.
It is clear that the Tánaiste was alluding to the dangers of the existing international situation—dangers which must be obvious to the Deputy, as they are to everybody else. It is the policy of the Government, in the domain of external relations, to make whatever contribution may be in our power towards the preservation of peace. At the same time, the situation is kept under constant review, and the Ministers more particularly concerned, including the Minister for Defence in respect of Civil Defence measures, are making such preparations as are practicable, in our circumstances, to reduce the risks that would be involved for the people of this country if war should in fact occur.
The phrase used by the Tánaiste was "that war was so imminent," I ask the Taoiseach would it not be reasonable to assume that any responsible Government which has reason to believe that war was imminent would have taken certain obvious steps such as the recall of military reserves, the arrangement of civilian supplies, not to mention food for the civilian population, arrangements for casualties and so on? Has any one of these steps been taken by the Government in view of the suggestion that war was imminent?
I have all the Press cuttings in which the Tánaiste's speech was reported and he did not make that statement.
Is it suggested that the Press report was inaccurate?
No. I am saying he was not reported as having made that statement.
The Tánaiste is reported as having said war was imminent.
He was not so reported.
May I ask the Taoiseach did the Tánaiste say war was imminent?
He did not.
Did he use the word "imminent"?
No, he did not.
At all?
No.
We must have a lot of bad note-takers in this country, not able to take him down.