Vol. 262 No. 1
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs at what point the former Secretary-General of the United Nations offered the good offices of the UN in trying to bring peace to Northern Ireland; at what level discussions between this country and the UN Secretariat took place; and if any consultations took place between this country and Britain on the Secretary-General's offer.
11.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the reasons why he did not communicate the news of the offer by the former Secretary-General of the United Nations either to the leaders of the Opposition Parties or to the Dáil in general.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together. As is customary, I am not prepared to comment on confidential discussions which took place with the former Secretary-General of the UN on the Northern Ireland situation. However, I wish to say that the Government appreciates U Thant's understanding of the question and the efforts he made at the time as well as the interest shown by many friendly Governments in the matter since then.
In view of the statement made by U Thant on this matter, surely it would not be against public interest for the Minister to discuss it now.
The Deputy will appreciate that the former Secretary-General was talking about something he undertook as an initiative of his own. He said that he consulted with us and later with the British. He is entitled to talk about his own initiatives but he spoke to us on a confidential basis.
