I should like on behalf of my group to say we extend a very sincere and warm welcome to President John F. Kennedy on his visit to this part of Ireland. His visit comes at a time of grave crisis in the great country of which he is President and we all appreciate the fact that he is conferring a very signal honour on this small island by his visit at such a difficult time. We are proud and glad of the fact that it is a President of Irish descent who will undoubtedly, in the great country of America, bring an end to segregation and thus achieve the ends for which the Civil War was fought in America.
We as a small nation should be proud that an Irishman is to the forefront in the United States and will bring about equality of opportunity for all citizens, and the sympathy and support of all the members of this House will go out to President Kennedy in his tremendous fight at the present time. In welcoming the motion, I should like to say I feel his visit to Ireland is of tremendous significance and importance to us for a number of reasons. I believe President Kennedy is a man who despises lackeys and crawlers of all kinds, whether they be nations or individuals, and I believe his visit here to Ireland will set the seal of approval on the Irish stand in the United Nations since we became members of that worldwide organisation.
Though we may not always see eye to eye on various matters, I believe he approves of the stand of this small country and of the statements and actions of the Irish representatives over the years; that he approves also of the statement made by the present Minister for External Affairs within the past two years that Ireland, as a small nation, was proud to be uncommitted, was proud to take a part in the councils of the world without commitment to any power bloc in the United Nations. His visit here signifies his approval of Ireland's stand in that regard.
While his decision to visit Ireland is in itself to be welcomed, his decision to visit three of the four green fields of Ireland is especially to be welcomed. It would have been appreciated and understood if he visited only Dublin, considering the tremendous burdens he has to bear. The impossibility of his visiting the fourth green field is proof of his disapproval of Partition. His rejection of the invitation issued to him by the Premier of Great Britain is proof of his rejection of the belief that the Premier of Great Britain has any right to invite the President of the United States to visit Ireland's fourth green field. I believe that President Kennedy is sorry that he had not the opportunity afforded to him of an invitation from an all-Ireland Government based here in Dublin to visit the fourth green field. I believe that President Kennedy believes that the partition of Ireland is more unjust and inequitable than even the partition of Germany and it is significant that he is going to visit the partition wall in Berlin when he goes there.
I should like to say, before I conclude, that a number of Deputies have frequently spoken about Ireland's debt to America for taking Ireland's emigrants over the years. America should be thankful to Ireland for having given her our finest sons and daughters. America can thank Ireland for having given her the Kennedy family, among other great Irish people. We are proud that President Kennedy has reached the top but we should not forget all the other Irish people who had to leave this country over the years and we hope that those Americans of Irish descent will not forget the land of their forebears.
On this motion proposed by the Taoiseach, let me say that the Taoiseach has audacity to come into this House after having given the full details of this visit to the Irish Press last week. His attitude in these matters all along has shown his contempt for this House. It means that people outside the House are given information regarding matters to come before the House before that information is given to members of the House. It is up to the leaders of the major parties in the House to show their disapproval of the Taoiseach's attitude in this matter. If there is to be an announcement on matters of national importance, the first place it should be announced is in this House and not in the Irish Press or in any other newspaper. The Taoiseach's attitude in this matter has shown contempt for the people of the country and contempt for this House. I regret to have to say that on this occasion but it has to be said, especially in view of the fact that the Taoiseach has taken this view all along the line. I understand that certain arrangements, which appear in the Irish Independent today, have been made in regard to the facilities for visitors to the House during President Kennedy's visit.
