asked the Taoiseach whether it is his intention to reply to Mr. Brian Faulkner's speech of 2nd June in which he criticised life in the Republic.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - NI Prime Minister's Speech.
8.
It is my custom to express the Government's views on the North, on North-South relations and on Anglo-Irish relations at times when I think it appropriate. I do not propose to vary this practice.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that, in the interests of communication, to put it at its lowest, between North and South when the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland makes a speech which includes strong criticism of certain important features of life in the Republic, the Taoiseach should reply correcting the errors he may feel are implicit in the speech? Would the Taoiseach agree that it is extraordinary, remembering that he has unilaterally made several speeches about the situation in the North in recent months, that he should now ignore the occasion on which Mr. Faulkner, the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, makes a most important speech declaring his Government's whole approach to several important features of life in the Republic? Is it not extraordinary that the Taoiseach would not consider it worth replying to?
It might be worth a reply, but I do not think argument and counter-argument is the way to deal effectively with the situation.
The basic premise of the Taoiseach's approach is that we should seek an exchange of views. That means we should not avoid argument——
This is not a question.
In those circumstances, is it not extraordinary that the Taoiseach should ignore this important speech on this important occasion and say that it is not worthy of comment?
I have not said that. Neither have I said that I proposed to ignore it. I make statements in what I regard as important speeches from time to time. I think I ought to choose my own ground and my own time.
Can we take it that the Taoiseach proposes to reply in kind to that speech on the appropriate occasion?
In his own time.
I will deal with the matter, yes.
We heard that before.
Further arising out of the Taoiseach's reply, Mr. Faulkner referred in his speech to a fear of being subjected to a theocracy in an all-Ireland parliament. Would the Taoiseach not agree that recent proposals by the Minister for Education with regard to community schools are of a nature which would intensify such fears and does he not think——
That matter is not the subject of debate and cannot be debated.
This arises directly out of the speech.
Question No. 9.
In reply to Deputy Cruise-O'Brien, this is possibly his modern version of the claim that Home Rule is Rome rule. We know the emptiness of that claim.
The Taoiseach may know it but he is not demonstrating it.
We are saying it absolutely. As far as the Deputy's allegation about community schools is concerned, there is no question of theocracy being involved. We want to give fair play to everybody and we are listening to the views of everybody.
The Taoiseach did not listen to their views or give them fair play——
It was your fellows who did that 20 years ago.