asked the Taoiseach whether he has any plans for a continuation of North-South talks as soon as the new Stormont Cabinet is formed following the recent general election.
4.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - North-South Relations.
3.
asked the Taoiseach if the speech made by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries at Cahir on the 23rd instant represents Government policy regarding Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
While I have no immediate plans for a meeting, I would like to see the North-South talks resumed at an appropriate time which would be mutually convenient to both sides.
In that part of his speech which is the subject matter of Question No. 4, the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries made three main points:—
(1) he rejected the allegation made recently by the Northern Premier that the claim in our Constitution to jurisdiction over the 32 counties of Ireland is "a legal fiction";
(2) he advocated support for anti-Partition policies; and
(3) he asserted that the unity of Ireland will always be an issue for the people of this country so long as the Border divides it.
These three points accord fully with Government policy.
Does the Taoiseach accept that possibly the most helpful movement which has occurred in Northern Ireland politics in recent years has been the civil rights movement, and does he agree that any statement made by any member of his Government on this side of the Border that would hold back or impede that hopeful movement is a stab in the back to that movement and a retrograde step?
Do not talk nonsense. You do not know anything about it.
Civil rights are fundamental to any democracy. There is democracy in Northern Ireland only when civil rights are observed, but Partition is another issue which we will never forget in this part of the country.
Due to the fact that the present Government have done nothing during the past 30 years, does the Taoiseach not think that if this is Government policy it is the Taoiseach or the Minister for External Affairs who should make those statements? Does he not think that a Minister who has created such disunity at home is the wrong man to make such statements?
This is out of order. It does not arise from the question.
Is there any of the three points made by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries with which Deputy L'Estrange or any other Deputy over there disagrees.
Is there any one of the three points about which the Government have done anything during the past 30 years?
There certainly is. We got rid of the Free State.
We got rid of the Oath of Allegiance to the British king.
We established a Constitution that applies to the 32 counties.
The normalisation of politics in Northern Ireland takes precedence over the beat of Lambeg drums on the other side of the Border and of empty propaganda on this side. Our position is to be responsible and not to say anything or do anything which would hold up the hopeful development in Northern Ireland through which Protestants would cross religious boundaries and be prepared to unite with the civil rights movement. In these circumstances, catch-cries on this side do not help, and Deputy Blaney's remarks were catch-cries.
I do not accept that.
The removal of Mr. McAteer shows there is a new wind blowing in the North, and to help that we should cease scoring propaganda points on this side.
Who is making propaganda?
The Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries was stating what every true Irishman feels.
And no half baked red will stop him.
Go over to Castro.
Order. Question No. 5.
Deputy Blaney put personal ambitions before the Nationalist interests.