asked the Taoiseach whether the meeting he requested with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Wilson, on the Six County situation has yet taken place; and, if not, when it will take place.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meeting with British Prime Minister.
3.
It did not prove possible to arrange for a meeting before the dissolution of the Eighteenth Dáil as originally contemplated. No definite date has yet been fixed for a meeting.
Does the Taoiseach not consider it a matter of urgency? In the middle of last April he went across to see the British Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Wilson, in view of the events that had then occurred in the Six Counties. Does he not consider it of the same urgency now, particularly in view of the events of the weekend?
There would be some relationship between the recent events and the previous ones, but the representatives of the people in whose interests I went at that time are trying to restrain those who are responsible for the present acts. I want to make sure that any initiative I would take now would be conductive to furthering the interests of those people, rather than the contrary.
With that I would agree, but would the Taoiseach not consider it a matter of urgency that he should see the British Prime Minister?
That is one of the initiatives to which I have referred. I should like to make sure that the initiative I take would benefit the people whose interests we have at heart.
The House and the people believed the Taoiseach was trying to get an appointment with Mr. Wilson as quickly as possible. It is now nearly three months since the Taoiseach made that announcement and he says now that some time he may see him.
I suggest that the situation has changed.
For better or for worse?
A different series of incidents has now taken place with perhaps a slightly different motivation. I am not certain of that, but I want to repeat that I wish to ensure that any action I shall take is not counter-productive and that it will not in any way add to the troubles or the problems with which we are now faced.
Does the Taoiseach, therefore, suggest we should dismiss from our minds the events of April this year?
I am not dismissing them but other events have occurred.