asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his recent meetings with Captain O'Neill, the Northern Ireland Premier; and what was the result of these discussions.
8.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Meeting with Northern Ireland Premier.
7.
asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement regarding his recent meeting with Captain O'Neill; and if Partition was discussed at either meeting.
9.
asked the Taoiseach if any practical scheme of co-operation between North and South will follow Captain O'Neill's recent visit to Dublin; and if he will give details of all matters discussed at this meeting.
10.
asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his recent meetings with the Northern Ireland Premier, Captain O'Neill.
11.
asked the Taoiseach if it is his intention to travel to Belfast in the near future for further talks with Captain O'Neill.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 together.
My recent meetings with Captain O'Neill in Belfast on the 11th December and in Dublin on 8th January were a continuation of the policy established by my predecessor of contact and maximum co-operation in practical matters of public concern without sacrifice of principle. No constitutional topics were touched upon at either meeting.
The discussions at these meetings covered a broad range of topics of common interest including tourism, transport, electricity supply, trade, measures to keep foot and mouth disease out of Ireland, road safety, currency decimalisation and cultural matters.
There are no plans for a visit to Belfast in the near future for further talks with Captain O'Neill.
As I have said before, I believe that the meetings which have taken place between Captain O'Neill and myself as well as between other Ministers and officials on both sides have helped to confirm the desirability and good sense of this policy of contact and co-operation in order to contribute to a better understanding and appreciation of our common interests.
If Partition was not discussed at these meetings, why was it not discussed, in view of all that Fianna Fáil have been saying about it in the past? Also if members of the British House of Commons are interested in Partition, in discrimination in housing and jobs, and in gerrymandering, surely the head of an Irish Government should be interested in these matters, and if not, why not?
There is no doubt about the interest of myself as head of Government, the Government in general and our Party in these matters. However, Partition has been with us now for almost 50 years and in that time prejudices of different kinds have been built up. We have now established a very useful line of communication and I think we should nurture that line of communication and not so overload it as to revert to the old status quo and the negative approach we had.
Would the Taoiseach tell the House why the visits of himself to Belfast and of Captain O'Neill down here were kept so secret? Why is there not prior notice? Was there any reason for it?
May I answer bluntly that there are security matters in question here? Obviously — there is no point in hiding it — there was the danger of certain demonstrations which it would be better to avoid.
President Johnson and President Kennedy took the same risks and their visits were well publicised beforehand. Surely if the Taoiseach goes to part of his own country, there should not be such secrecy about it.
He is now saying that Mr. de Valera's approach was a negative approach.