asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider opening formal diplomatic relations with Russia and China.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Diplomatic Relations with Russia and China.
27.
While the matter of establishing diplomatic relations with other countries is kept under continuing review I do not consider it appropriate to discuss publicly the cases of particular countries.
Would the Minister not accept that there is a case for consideration in relation to both Russia and China, particularly as we now have proposals for closer relationship with many west European countries and in view of the Minister's specific support for China in the United Nations and the fact that many countries opened diplomatic relations with China immediately after their admission to the United Nations? Would the Minister not think it would greatly enhance the international standing of this country if we did open such relationship, even of an informal or marginal nature at the outset, with what is really one-third of the world and that it is necessary and desirable that such relationship should be fully considered by the Government in the seventies?
While I welcome opinions in the House, it would be inappropriate to speculate in relation to other countries and the Deputy should realise that. It would be inappropriate to discuss the pros and cons.
Would the Minister not agree to consider the matter?
Even to talk about considering the matter, the Deputy should realise, entails talking about other countries in this Parliament. It would be quite inappropriate to talk of them as if they were not sovereign countries and I think the Deputy will appreciate this fact.
The matter has been raised on a number of occasions but nothing has been done. I do not think it is inappropriate to consider the matter, in that setting.
I do not think the Deputy has got the point. If we were to speak here about other sovereign States and our relations with them it could be quite offensive to them and it is extraordinary that the Deputy does not appear to understand this. It is offensive to other States to discuss them in our Parliament or to speculate about them. For that reason I think it is quite inappropriate to discuss the matter publicly but I welcome opinions from any Members of the House.
That is what the Minister is getting. I am making a statement, I am not being offensive.
I am calling Question No. 28.