asked the Minister for External Affairs if the Government will convey to the United States Government that they desire to be consulted in advance in respect of any proposals to establish missile bases in any part of Ireland.
14.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Missile Bases.
13.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will inform the Government of the United States that in the view of the Irish Government it is not desirable that any missile bases be established in any part of Ireland.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.
I have nothing to add to my statement of the 21st November and to what I said in the Dáil on Thursday last in reply to questions on this subject. The Deputy will no doubt have noted the statement by Lord Brooke-borough on Tuesday last that no proposal to set up a Polaris submarine base in Ireland has ever been made.
Does the Taoiseach think it would be premature to approach the United States Government and to request them to consult him and the Government in that eventuality?
I think it would be very foolish to get into a flap as a result of a random question put at a Press Conference which produced a hasty reply.