asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government had any consultations with the US Government before deciding not to proceed with the provision of the Kennedy Memorial Concert Hall.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kennedy Memorial Hall.
44.
The answer to the question is in the negative.
Does the Minister not accept that it is a grave discourtesy to the American people, to the Kennedy family and, indeed, to the Irish people who had such respect for this Irish-American President that this Government should take such a decision without having any consultation with either the American Government or the Kennedy family? Can the Minister explain why such discourtesy should have been offered to those particular interests?
I do not think that any discourtesy is involved or was intended. The decision was taken as to the action to be taken in this case. I have no request to provide a channel of communication on this matter.
The Minister will recognise that this was this nation's tribute to a great Irish-American President made by the Government at that time. The Minister will accept that, at least in common courtesy, any Government should have had consultation in advance with the American Government and possibly with the Kennedy family as well.
I do not feel that was the case. We have, in fact, commemorated President Kennedy in various ways. This particular project has, for reasons known, not come to fruition. I do not think it would be expected of us that in relation to each project we should consult the United States Government. Each country has in its own way tried to commemorate this great President. The particular way in which it is done in the nature of things would not always be a matter for consultation with the American Government. The American Government would not expect that that would be the case.