asked the Taoiseach the positive initiatives, if any, the Government have taken in pursuit of their policy on Northern Ireland since the Sunningdale Agreement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Policy on Northern Ireland.
1.
The Government's policy on Northern Ireland has been one of constant support and advocacy of the central principles on which the Sunningdale Agreement was based and which I set out, most recently, in moving the motion of confidence in the Government last Wednesday. These principles were debated in the House in the Adjournment debate last December, in the debate on Northern Ireland in February, in the debate on my statement to the House in March last, in the debate on the Adjournment last July and in the current confidence debate, as well as on many other occasions.
We have continued, in the contacts we have had with the British Government and with other parties and interests concerned, to press these same principles which, in our view, remain fully valid if a just and lasting settlement is to be achieved. In our view, this balanced approach is the one most likely to contribute to such a settlement.
I did not hear fully what the Taoiseach said because he spoke rather sotto voce. The fact that he spoke sotto voce indicates to me there was no positive action.
I will read the reply again.
Will the Taoiseach give an instance of one positive initiative taken by the Government since the Sunningdale Agreement in relation to the Northern Ireland situation?
Of course, it is easy to make verbal suggestions. As I have said frequently, if talk could settle this problem it would be settled long ago. That is where the Opposition make a mistake. Even as recently as the weekend, a Deputy whose contribution in Government was to cause embarrassment to his colleagues made a speech. There is a great difference between that and making continuous representations on the matters that affect the people in the North of Ireland which we are continuing to do, and which I shall continue to do when I meet the British Prime Minister on Friday.
I agree with the Taoiseach it is easy to talk but if the talk is of a negative nature, as is forthcoming from the Coalition Ministers, does he not realise this is a cause of deep concern to our people in that it represents to them there is a dilution of the national aspiration among members of the Government?
None whatever. I have made it perfectly clear what is Government policy. As I said last week, and I wish to repeat it now, if I have to choose between talk and action of the sort that certain Deputies of the Deputy's party when in Government indulged in, then I should prefer talk to action which damages the national interest.
Will the Taoiseach ensure there will not be negative talk on the part of Ministers under his control? Has the Taoiseach or any member of the Government initiated any economic cross-Border co-operation in recent months, specifically in relation to our membership of the EEC?
In that connection proposals are the subject of continuous discussion with the British Government on a joint approach to the EEC. So far the discussions have not resulted in a joint approach but it is our continuing attitude to endeavour to get a joint approach in regard to a common attitude on certain EEC matters.
Is the Taoiseach aware that Fianna Fáil members of the European Parliament recently put forward a motion calling on the EEC to take positive action in relation to cross-Border economic co-operation and that the effectiveness of that motion was blunted by an amendment put forward by two Fine Gael members?
I am not so aware but I am certainly aware of the damaging action that was done by the Deputy's colleagues when in Government.
The Government are a disaster. They have no policy.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
I know Deputies opposite do not like this to be raised. An all-party committee found that public money had been misappropriated and that an attempt was illegally made to import arms without authority, which were never delivered to those who were not entitled to get them in any case.
This is the second or third time since the Dáil reassembled last week that the Taoiseach has referred to these incidents in order to cover up his own lack of activity. Will he indicate what, if any, activity the Government are undertaking?
I am speaking of the record of Fianna Fáil. It is all on the record.
I am calling the next question.