Vol. 241 No. 2
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether, in view of his predecessor's repeated statements that he is doing his best to promote the opening of negotiations between the opposing sides in the Nigerian war, he will inform the Dáil what specifically he has done in this respect; and whether he is now prepared, in order to mark the deep concern of the Irish people about this question, to visit Nigeria and Biafra on a fact-finding mission.
38.
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the reported statement of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Vice-President of the Executive Council of Nigeria, that all is fair in war and starvation is one of the weapons of war; whether he has taken any steps to ascertain whether this reported statement represents the policy of the Nigerian Government towards Biafra; and whether he has any comment to make.
39.
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether, in view of the worsening food situation inside Biafra and of the high cost and risk of the airlift, he is prepared to ask the Nigerian and Biafran authorities to allow passage of an Irish relief ship, bringing food and medical supplies to Biafra by river.
40.
asked the Minister for External Affairs what action he is taking to protest against the interference by the Nigerian Government in the operation of famine relief and medical schemes being operated by the International Red Cross and other organisations in Biafra; and, in particular, what action he is taking to ensure that the charitable donations of Irish people to relieve human suffering in Biafra are not negatived by the actions of the Nigerian Government.
41.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if he has received representations requesting action by the Government to ensure that relief supplies are admitted to Nigeria and Biafra; what action it is proposed to take on these representations; what steps he intends to take to provide further relief from this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
42.
asked the Minister for External Affairs when action will be taken by the Government to meet the wishes of a growing number of Irish people to recognise Biafra as an independent State.
43.
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he will make immediate representations to the Nigerian Government to cease their blockade of supplies to the civilian population of Biafra and their aggression against Red Cross aircraft; and whether if these representations in consultation with African countries such as Zambia and Tanzania with which Ireland has friendly relations prove unsuccessful he will initiate action at the United Nations to secure UN protection for relief supplies to Biafra.
44.
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether in view of the cessation of Red Cross supplies to Biafra he will immediately change the Government policy confining Ireland's official contribution to aid to Biafra to the International Red Cross.
45.
asked the Minister for External Affairs what action his Department have taken to seek a termination of arms shipments to Nigeria and Biafra; and whether he will issue a White Paper containing any diplomatic communications between his Department and other Governments on this subject.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose taking Questions Nos. 37 to 45 together.
I am arranging this week to see the Nigerian representative and representatives of our missionary and relief organisations. I also expect to meet Colonel Ojukwu's representative, Mr. Kogbara. In the meantime, I would remind the House of the efforts of my predecessor to aid in the search for peace in Nigeria and promote delivery of relief shipments to the civilian victims of the conflict.
Will the Minister state whether, in addition to the authorities he cited, he has had any discussions with the British authorities on this subject?
I have not had any discussions with anybody yet. I have arranged for immediate commencement of discussions and, as I go along, I expect, from former experience, that I will discover new things that I should do but I should like to remind the House that every attempt through personal and diplomatic intervention was made by my predecessor and I think the House appreciates this. My predecessor has told this House often about his sustained efforts in this field.
Can the Minister say whether he intends after he interviews the persons he has named to make a further statement to the House in the matter?
I presume as time goes by I will be asked but I do not know of any arrangements in the House whereby a statement can be made other than Question Time. I will give information as I have it.
If the Minister, through the usual channels, informed us, we might facilitate him in that regard.
Right.
In view of the extremely brief and unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's statement on this desperately urgent problem, I should like, with your permission, to raise it on the Adjournment tonight.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
