asked the Taoiseach whether he will make a statement on recent contacts between his Government and the British Government on the Northern situation and whether he will make a comprehensive statement on the Government's response to the situation.
Private Notice Questions. - Six Counties Situation.
asked the Taoiseach having regard to the deep concern of our people about the tragic events in Northern Ireland since last Friday, if he will state the steps being taken by the Government to allay public anxiety, to contribute towards the restoration of peace and harmony in that area, to provide relief for any person who may have suffered and to make representations to the British Government and the United Nations Organisation.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take together the two private notice questions addressed to me. The situation in the north is one of extreme gravity. As I explained in statements on Saturday and Sunday, the Government are keeping in touch with the situation and will continue to deal with it in such a manner as will best serve the interests of all the Irish people. In particular, the Government have been in touch with the British Government.
I think that all Members of the Dáil will agree—especially, as the views of the Government and the Opposition Parties are well known—that it would be unwise for me to make a comprehensive statement or for Members to debate this matter when there would be even the slightest risk of anything being said that would exacerbate the situation in the north. In present circumstances, I consider that by reserving comment in this House—at least, for the time being—on the issues involved, all Members of the Dáil would best promote the restoration of peace and harmony in the north.
Might I remind the Taoiseach of a suggestion that came from this side of the House during the debate last October that there would be a consultative committee of the Dáil appointed in order to keep in touch with the situation in the Six Counties? The Taoiseach will also remember that on that occasion he did not turn down the proposal but promised to consider it. I should like therefore to ask him if he would consider the establishment of a consultative committee of the Dáil for this purpose. May I further ask the Taoiseach, in view of the information available to all of us in regard to the highly dangerous situation in the north and the probability—and I stress "probability"—of a reaction to these events in the Twenty-Six Counties, a reaction which poses a direct threat to our democratic institutions, is the Taoiseach able to assure the Dáil that he is in a position to safeguard these institutions?
With regard to the suggestion that a consultative committee of this House be set up, I have in fact given this matter some further consideration and I do not think it would be appropriate in the present circumstances. However, I would be prepared to maintain close contact with the Leaders of the two Opposition Parties. I would be prepared to meet them together on an ad hoc basis, to keep them fully informed and to receive their views as they feel free to give them to me and that these ad hoc meetings should be as frequent as the situation would require. With regard to the probable reaction in the Twenty-Six Counties, as the Deputy suggested there might be, I am not in any way apprehensive about the probable reaction here, but I am satisfied that if there were such there would be no danger to our institutions.
Is the Taoiseach therefore satisfied that the events in the north will have no repercussions here in the Twenty-Six Counties? May I say further I would still press for the establishment of a consultative committee of the Dáil? I certainly do not reject out of hand the Taoiseach's proposal that there should be consultations. If this is the only method by which we can get information I am sure it will be acceptable, but may I again ask the Taoiseach whether or not he is satisfied that the events in the north will not have repercussions down here? I think there is evidence of repercussions now. How small or great they will be we do not know. That is one of the reasons why I believe there should be this consultative committee of the Dáil representative of the three parties in order, as we stressed in October, to ensure that there would be a Parliament united in a policy of peace as far as the Six Counties is concerned.
I do not think there is any question of there being any disunity in this Dáil as regards peace in the Six Counties. I cannot say definitely that incidents that might take place on one side or the other of the Border will not have repercussions, but I have no apprehension whatever that repercussions of the nature suggested by the Deputy as would prejudice our institutions are likely to occur. I still would be prepared to meet on a regular basis the Leaders of the two Opposition Parties to give them as much information as I can, to discuss the situation with them as it develops, to discuss any unexpected happenings at short notice. I think that is a reasonable suggestion in the circumstances.
Would the Taoiseach at this stage reconsider the suggestions which have come from this side of the House and which now appear to be endorsed by all sides of the Opposition, that an all-party committee should be established, that it is a more satisfactory method of dealing with the situation than ad hoc meetings between the Taoiseach, Deputy Corish and myself? While not pressing at the moment for a debate, I take it that if circumstances warrant it, time will be provided for a discussion on the situation up there.
I am still not satisfied that an all-party committee would be appropriate. I believe the suggestion I have made would be the best one to meet the situation. As far as a debate is concerned, I do not think a debate would be appropriate at this time. If at a later time I consider it appropriate, I shall be prepared to consider giving time for it, but I doubt if it will arise in the near future.
Has the Taoiseach considered convening or has he suggested a meeting between the Government here, the Stormont Government and the British Government to consider the present situation in the north without prejudice to any wider issues involved?
No, I have not considered such a meeting but, as I have indicated to the House, we have been in close contact with the British Government to ensure that our views are fully made known to them and that any action we feel ought to be taken should be at least considered by the British Government.
Arising out of that part of the Taoiseach's reply which dealt with a debate, would the Taoiseach not agree that when this matter was debated in the Dáil the overwhelming majority of the statements made in the Dáil on this subject were statements which had a great degree of responsibility and which, on the whole, moved towards calming public opinion, and that the statements which had a tendency to exacerbate the situation have been made outside this House as well as in it by people who cannot be prevented from making statements in any case; that therefore there is no serious reason to prevent the Dáil from debating this issue, and to suggest the Dáil is incapable of discussing this issue in a responsible way and that it cannot discuss an emergency before this nation is to tend to bring the Dáil into contempt before the people?
I could not accept that in the slightest degree. I will accept that the debate we had some months ago was an objective one and one that, perhaps, contributed much to calm the situation and certainly clear the air among people on both sides of the Border as to what the general attitude here was. With regard to statements being made outside, nobody can stop these statements being made but I would suggest that if similar statements were made within the House, and they could well be made in the course of the debate, that they could induce similar kinds of statements from the other side of the House, other than the side on which the statements were originally made. As well, the debate we had on the last occasion took place at a time of relative calm in the Six Counties. I do not think anybody could suggest that such relative calm now prevails and there is a further consideration that the British Home Secretary is at present in Belfast investigating on the spot the position himself. I think it would be inappropriate that we should discuss the matter at the same time as, or reasonably near to his visit.
Can the Taoiseach say how different is our situation when one remembers that Stormont will this week discuss the crisis and there is every possibility that the crisis in the north will be discussed in the British House of Commons if not this week next week?
That may well be but——
Why are we so different? Inflammatory statements could be made in either of the other two Parliaments.
There is no reason why we should not be different from Stormont or Westminster.
The Taoiseach must understand our grave interest in this.
Could the Taoiseach elaborate on the statement that certain statements might be made in the House? Could the Taoiseach elaborate on the people or the party whose names would be allied with such dangerous statements at this time because this is a slur on the House and the Taoiseach should say exactly whom he intends this remark to apply to.
The Deputy ought not be so naïve. He knows well that statements have been made that have caused——
By whom?
——offence on one side or the other——
By whom? Who will make the statements in this House?
In the course of every debate practically.
Who will make the statements in relation to the north?
Since the Taoiseach has given reasons why—we do not regard them as adequate reasons —this should not be debated immediately, although he admits the previous debate did have a calming influence on public opinion, will he then assure the House that it will have an opportunity of debating this major national issue before the House goes into recess this summer?
I will give no such assurance.
(Interruptions.)
We cannot have a debate on these questions.
Is the Taoiseach seriously suggesting that he will prevent Dáil Éireann from discussing this matter?
(Interruptions.)
Just because you are afraid of your own back benches. Because you are a prisoner in your own party you refuse to allow it to be debated. This is disgraceful.
Does the Taoiseach think it is reasonable that, for example, if this House goes into recess at the end of July that our Parliament will not have an opportunity of discussing this matter for three months up to October?
The Taoiseach has another think coming if he thinks that.
Having regard to the rate of progress of debates there does not seem to be much prospect of the House going into recess at the end of July but it is not unknown that Parliament can be recalled in special circumstances.
The Taoiseach will remember that he refused to recall Parliament last year?
And rightly so.