Vol. 260 No. 6
asked the Taoiseach why he has not taken the initiative to meet personally the leaders of the Opposition parties in the Dáil for consultations on the proposed all-party committee on Northern Ireland; and if he is aware of the crucial importance of the immediate establishment of this committee.
3.
asked the Taoiseach if he will consider the establishment of an international commission of eminent jurists and economists to act in an advisory capacity to the all-party committee on Northern Ireland when it is eventually operative; and, if not, why.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
I have had consultations with the leaders of the main Opposition parties in this House about the establishment of an inter-party committee on Northern Ireland and it is hoped to summon the first meeting of the committee at an early date.
The committee will, no doubt, consider what secretarial and other service they will need.
As almost six weeks have elapsed since the Health initiatives were announced and there are only ten months left, which may be the ten most crucial months in our history, does the Taoiseach not think it advisable that this should be done as quickly as possible?
The Deputy's calendar is working faster than ours.
It is more than five weeks since the Health initiatives were first announced.
Not quite.
It does not matter. Why argue? The fact is that there is very little time left. I would think that the Taoiseach should take the initiative immediately and not delay over this.
I have taken the initiative and it is not my fault now that the committee has not been set up.
Question.
We have had discussions. I do not think the Taoiseach would object if I made reference to these discussions. Frankly, the terms of reference have still to be agreed on. As I said to the Taoiseach personally, would it not be better, for fear this committee would not get off the ground at all, if the nominees to the committee were to get together and try to agree on terms of reference rather than have it a non-starter?
The Deputy did make that suggestion last week but, perhaps, this is not the place in which we can discuss these matters. It would be better that we discussed them together first, as the Deputy has done so far. I put forward the proposed terms of reference last week, and the week before that, for that matter. The Deputy put forward different terms of reference. Deputy Cosgrave put forward a slight extension of my terms of reference. Let me be quite open and frank: I am prepared to agree to this slight extension and perhaps Deputy Corish and I can have a word together afterwards about it.
Do I understand that the Taoiseach is prepared to agree to Deputy Cosgrave's extension of the terms of reference which was, I think, an extension of the form amended by the leader of the Labour Party?
It was but, as I said, I do not think this is the place to discuss these details. I am not trying to evade my responsibility but I have been pressing this matter.
(Cavan): It is with the Taoiseach at the moment.
No, it is not.
