Vol. 257 No. 6
asked the Taoiseach if in view of the non-sectarian tradition of society in the Republic he will make a statement on the Government's intentions concerning the report of the all-party committee on the Constitution which specifically referred to article 44. 1º 2º and 3º of the Constitution.
2.
asked the Taoiseach if he has considered legislation to amend the Constitution in conformity with the recommendations of the all-party committee on the Constitution and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
In regard to Question No. 1, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 4 of the 22nd July last. As regards Question No. 2, the position in general is still the same as set out in a reply given by me to a similar question (No. 1) on the 8th February, 1968.
In view of the continuing changes in the situation concerning the North, I would be prepared to consider the setting up of an all-party committee on the Constitution on the understanding that there would be commitment to the conclusions of such a committee. I would envisage that the task of the committee would be to undertake preparatory work which would set a basis for negotiating a Constitution suitable for a united Ireland as part of an overall negotiation to achieve a united Ireland.
Is the Taoiseach aware that on 22nd October, 1969, he stated in this House that, as I suggested in the course of a radio interview on 21st September, 1969, the Government would be prepared to initiate proposals for an appropriate amendment of that Article? Is he further aware that the rock of honesty and integrity he spoke about in the past as reported in the Irish Times of 24th November indicates that Fianna Fáil now seek to abandon the North——
This does not arise.
Does the Taoiseach not admit that two years ago in this House——
That does not arise.
The man is cracked.
He made a definite statement that he intended to introduce a Bill——
The Deputy is making a speech, not asking a question.
Does the Taoiseach intend to continue trying to cod and fool the people or does he intend to govern? Why make a statement two years ago and do nothing about it since?
Would the Taoiseach not agree that there was no recommendation from the all-party committee, that all they were asked to do was to look over the Constitution without making recommendation and that eventually the Government made a decision which bore no relation to the discussions which had taken place over two years?
The terms of reference of that all-party committee were, as I understood them, that their recommendations, even if they were unanimous, would bind neither the members of the committee nor their parties.
Despite that there were no recommendations. Comments were made on the Constitution. Since this committee have been bandied about here over the past few years, as a member of the committee it is only fair that I should say that a number of items were referred to.
Were not the conclusions entitled "recommendations"?
I do not think they were. In any case whether or not they were the only thing the Government did was to take action which was not adverted to except to say that it was not considered a good idea. The Government introduced legislation to deal with a matter which the committee recommended against.
