asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs what action, if any, has been taken by him or by his Department since the US Government issued their ultimatum on the landing rights issue last August.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - US Airline Landing Rights.
32.
Mr. O'Donnell
We have done everything possible to impress on the US Government the gravity which we attach to the issues that are at stake.
Mr. O'Donnell
Is the Minister aware that at this moment the American Government appear to be unwilling or unable to accept the merits of the Irish case? Further, is the Minister aware that the American public are totally unaware of what is happening? Could the Minister say whether the fact that the American Government are unconvinced, and the American public are unaware, of our case, is because the Irish case may have been misrepresented by the American Embassy here, as has been alleged by some commentators recently? Could it be due to the fact that the Irish Government have not presented their case——
I hope the Deputy is not proposing to discuss the whole matter on this question.
I should like to make it clear that the American Government through their ambassador here and through the Secretary of State, Mr. Rogers, have had a very clear picture of the situation from me. There is no question of having a misleading picture from their Embassy here and it would be unfair to let that go out. I am also aware of some people who are very interested in Shannon now perhaps not being quite as definite in their statements as I was when it was not a public issue. I do not think the American Government have any doubt about our Government's stand in this situation.
Mr. O'Donnell
Could the Minister give any indication of the reaction of Mr. Rogers to the case presented by the Minister? Further, could the Minister say if he took any other action while he was in the United States than the one-hour meeting he had with Mr. Rogers?
I was dealing with the person concerned with Foreign Affairs —my counterpart in that country—and it is not appropriate to give details of these meetings. The Deputy speaks about other action. There was other communication with the United States through the Taoiseach and this will be dealt with later in Question Time.
Mr. O'Donnell
Could the Minister state whether he made a public statement with a view to informing the American public of the matter?
This is another point. Some of the people who are speaking a lot about this matter in public at home now were not as strong when they were speaking privately.
Mr. O'Donnell
I would ask the Minister to answer my question.
This is important because there was some misleading of the Americans on this matter. At a stage when they might have been told the same thing as the Government were telling them, they were misled into believing that only the Government were keeping them back. Quite apart from my interest in the constituency, my predecessor and myself are on record as having taken a very firm stand on this matter. The American Government have no doubt where we stand and this has been pressed strongly on them. The making of public statements at home has no influence on the situation but it creates a new and difficult situation at home.
Mr. O'Donnell
Surely the Minister realises that the making of public statements at home can have some influence? I have copies of at least six issues of American aviation publications and public statements made here have been printed in those publications——
Yes, public statements by people favouring——
Mr. O'Donnell
The American people are unaware of the situation.
I can inform the Deputy that it is not American public opinion which is dealing with this matter—it is the American Government.
Like all other Irish people I am concerned about this matter. Has the Minister sought the assistance and co-operation of a very influential American, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, John W. McCormack? This man has deep Irish interests and in my hearing in his office in Washington five years ago he undertook to advance the interests of Ireland in the United States in any way possible. If the Minister has not sought the aid of Mr. McCormack, he should give careful consideration to my suggestion.
At the risk of causing consternation I shall try to make a point. The assumption by this Parliament that when other Governments behave in a way we do not like the fault lies with us is not a good assumption. Last week I dealt with this in another context and I shall not go further with that. We should not assume here that an Irish person is at fault always when other nations take actions we do not like.
Fianna Fáil are playing with the second 11. What can we expect when Fianna Fáil's best Ministers are gone?
In matters like this we should have a national outlook.
I am calling Question No. 33.