Vol. 234 No. 4
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether, at this stage in the present Nigerian war, he will consider making a personal peace mission to that country in the interests of achieving a peace settlement; if he will meet both sides in the present tragic dispute; and whether he has been in contact with any African country in regard to the present position.
4.
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether the Irish Ambassador in Lagos has made any representations to the Nigerian Government on the possibility of this country's offering mediation services in the interests of a peaceful settlement of the present dispute.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose taking Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
We are in constant with the Governments of African States either directly or through their diplomatic representatives in other capitals and at the United Nations.
We have not been asked by the parties concerned to act as mediators in the negotiation of a peaceful settlement in Nigeria and I see no useful purpose to be served by offering to do so.
