asked the Taoiseach whether any approach has been made to the Government to give de jure recognition to the Government of Northern Ireland; and, if so, if he will indicate the terms of the reply.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Recognition of the Northern Ireland Government.
2.
Members of the Government of Northern Ireland have publicly suggested that we should accord de jure recognition to the constitutional position of Northern Ireland under British law. As indicated by my predecessor, in reply to a question in Dáil Éireann on the 25th October, 1966, we do not recognise that the partition of the country is a just or durable arrangement and there can be no question of abandoning that position. Our hope is to bring about a situation in which the essential unity of the Irish people will be restored and expressed in the country's institutions. Meanwhile, we must work towards the maximum possible measure of co-operation in practical matters of public concern without sacrifice of principle.
Would the Taoiseach agree that it was a wrong decision to despatch the Chief of Staff of the Army to Belfast——
We cannot debate that on this question. Would Deputy O'Leary please resume his seat?
It is quite relevant.
It is not, and the Chair is ruling it out. The Deputy has a question on that matter later on.
May I ask a further supplementary? Were those overtures to give de jure recognition made to this Government, made in recent discussions with the Stormont regime, as the Taoiseach said? This is the first time we have been told in the House that such overtures have been made to the Taoiseach. Can he indicate if these overtures were made in recent discussions?
I did not say that any overtures were made to me or to the Government. I have replied to the Deputy as to what the position is and the Deputy is well aware that Members of the Northern Government have publicly made these statements. One recently made that statement which no doubt stimulated the Deputy's question. That is the extent of the overtures.