asked the Minister for Defence whether the attendance of the Chief of Staff at the recent RAF 50th anniversary celebration in Belfast had his prior approval.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - RAF Anniversary Celebrations.
46.
The answer to the Deputy's question is "yes". The visit was in a personal capacity.
Would the Minister agree that such a visit must imply approval by his Government of the presence of British Forces in that part of the country, and must appear to be a cynical write-off of those people who have suffered discrimination in that area under Unionism?
The Deputy can rest assured it does not express approval of anything he has mentioned.
For the Minister to send his Chief of Staff?
I did not send him. I gave approval.
Was the Minister requested to send him?
It was purely in his personal capacity he received this invitation.
Was the Minister requested to send his Chief of Staff?
The Chief of Staff told me he received this personal invitation. He asked if he might go and I simply said: "yes, you may go."
They simply had a celebration of the 50th anniversary of part of the British Armed Forces in the North of Ireland, and no political significance could be taken from participation in that?
There was no commitment whatsoever, and the Deputy can rest assured we are not committed to anything by his visit.
Has the Chief of Staff been present at any function like this before in the history of Partition?
That is a separate question.
The visit of the Labour Party to Moscow means they are now affiliated to the Communist Party.
That stuff worked before. What about Fianna Fáil so-called Republicans running up to Belfast and selling out to the Unionists?
(Interruptions.)