asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is his intention to persuade the Government of the UK to promote cross-Border co-operation on matters relating to the provision of roads, ports, railways, power supplies, water supplies and to industrial harmonisation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cross-Border Co-operation.
7.
The Deputy will be aware that the Government is at present preparing for a conference with the British Government and leaders of the elected representatives of Northern Ireland which, it is hoped, will lead to the setting up of a Council of Ireland. It is envisaged that this council will, inter alia, promote increasing co-operation in many areas including those referred to by the Deputy.
Could I ask the Minister if, in his concept of the Council of Ireland, he envisages Britain still filling her role of dominance over and occupation of the Six Counties?
The Council of Ireland is envisaged by this Government as a bipartite body with representatives of the Government of the Republic and of the Executive of Northern Ireland.
May I take it from the Minister's reply that it is at least in the Minister's mind that this Council of Ireland will be a two-party operation and that the ultimate in it would be that Britain would not hold any sway in regard to what it may or may not do?
Yes, but it has always been envisaged on our side as being a bipartite body with only representatives of the Government of the Republic and the Executive of Northern Ireland. I think that is the situation. I do not think I can add anything to that.
The Minister said it has always been envisaged as a bipartite body. This is the first indication we have had of this policy approach by the Government. Is the Minister seriously suggesting that the major party in this island should not, in fact, be represented on the Council of Ireland or is he implying, in fact, that the Council of Ireland should merely be an executive functioning body and would not in fact operate in the same institutional manner as this House for instance or any other sovereign parliament?
I am not implying anything. I could not follow the Deputy's supplementary question. Is he suggesting that it should be tripartite and the British Government should be members of it? Is that the Deputy's suggestion? I did not quite catch the whole of his question.
I am amazed the Minister takes that interpretation out of what I said but the Minister will understand that a representative Council of Ireland is a very important matter and it is a very important matter to ensure that it has the consensus of all the people. That does not include the British Government, for the Minister's information. I am simply asking the Minister if, in view of that, he does not recognise the need to make the council as representative as possible?
I am sorry. I misunderstood the Deputy. Perhaps it was a momentary inattention on my part. As a representative body naturally there should be parliamentary representation as well. I am sorry if I did not make that clear.
The Minister may also have misunderstood my last supplementary question. I will put the question in another way. Might I ask the Minister whether, in fact, his idea of the two-party Council of Ireland does, in fact, exclude the British Government from the affairs of the territory of both participants in the Council?
The Council of Ireland, in carrying out its functions, will be doing so jointly by joint executive action of the Government of Northern Ireland and our Government and with appropriate involvement of the Parliament and the Assembly. It is not envisaged on our side—I do not think it is envisaged at all—that the British Government will play a part in that.
When, if ever, can we expect to have a publication of the Government's proposals in relation to the Council of Ireland?
It is not proposed to publish the Government's negotiating position in this matter.
I am not talking in terms of the negotiating position. The Minister has given some indication as to what the Government have on their minds in some areas. The Minister will appreciate that in view of Press speculation and information from informed sources it is rather important that this House should be aware of what the Government's proposals are so that we could take a serious and responsible view on the matter.
We have in certain respects indicated our position where this was necessary at this stage. I do not envisage that there will be any further indication of that position in advance of the negotiations.