Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Jul 1973

Vol. 267 No. 6

Private Business. - All-Party Committee on Irish Relations.

The Taoiseach

I wish to inform the House that the All-Party Committee originally formed to contribute to a peaceful settlement of the Northern Ireland situation, is, with the agreement of the three main parties, being reconstituted and reconvened.

The terms of reference are as follows:

With a view to contributing to a peaceful settlement of the Northern Ireland situation, it has been agreed to set up an inter-Party Committee to establish the common ground between the Parties represented on the Committee on the constitutional, legal, economic, cultural, social and other relevant steps required to bring about lasting reconciliation of all the people of Ireland so that conditions may be created conducive to a united Ireland; and, if thought appropriate, to make recommendations.

The following are the names of the members nominated by the Party leaders to constitute the Committee:

Representing Fine Gael:

Deputy Garret FitzGerald, Minister for Foreign Affairs,

Deputy Declan Costello, Attorney General and

Deputy Paddy Harte.

Representing Labour:

Deputy Conor Cruise-O'Brien, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs,

Deputy Barry Desmond.

Representing Fianna Fáil:

Deputy Joe Brennan,

Deputy Frank Carter,

Deputy Michael O'Kennedy,

Deputy Vivion de Valera and

Deputy Paddy Smith.

It is intended to hold the first meeting at a mutually convenient date in the next couple of weeks.

Mr. J. Lynch

I have no observation except that I am glad the Taoiseach has reconstituted the committee with the terms of reference almost exactly the same as the terms of reference of the previous committee, the only difference being that there are now five Members of the Opposition and five Members representing the Government benches, whereas there were four party representatives as against five. However, this is no significant change in the structure or the purpose of the committee.