asked the Taoiseach whether any preparatory work in connection with the proposed Council of Ireland is in progress at present.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Council of Ireland.
4.
The answer is in the affirmative.
Is there any specific group of civil servants amongst all the different Departments of State at present at work on the provision of facts on the constitutional, political and economic implications of unity, which would obviously be basic preparatory work to the possible powers of the Council of Ireland?
There is, as the House is aware, in existence a departmental unit comprising officers of my Department, of the Department of Finance and the Department of Foreign Affairs. They sit continuously and keep all matters affecting reunification under review.
Would the Taoiseach agree that the provision of facts in this area is important and that the absence of facts at present is a real obstacle to dialogue with moderate Unionist opinion at the moment?
I do not get the nuances as to the existence or absence of facts.
Would the Taoiseach agree that we, on our side, have not come forward with any proposals in the economic, constitutional and political spheres on this question of unity and would he agree that lack of facts is a real obstacle to any dialogue with moderate Unionist opinion?
The Deputy put his question down in the context of the proposed Council of Ireland and asked what preparatory work was being done in connection with it. Preparatory work is being done and ultimately, if it comes to the setting up of a Council of Ireland, that must be a matter of discussion and negotiation. I do not think this is the place where we should place our views fully before the world, so to speak, in advance of negotiations. If the Deputy will refer to that part of my speech in Oxford dealing with the Council of Ireland he will see my views broadly set out there.