asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, after his recent appearance on the RTE programme Féach on which the topic of neutrality was discussed, he will indicate if the present Government policy on neutrality is as stated previously.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Neutrality Policy.
12.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to him on 4 May last. There has been no change in the Government's policy on this issue.
As a result of his interview the impression was conveyed of a greater willingness to join in a future European Community defence organisation if such were to result from the evolution of European political co-operation. Would the Minister agree that impression was conveyed?
No, I could not agree. If there has been any change in policy it has not been on these benches since my last statement. No such interpretation should be made of my remarks. I have always made it clear, as I think my predecessor also did, that in the event of political development occurring in Europe and in the event of a situation arising which one would hope never would arise, the Community of which we were a member were under attack, then obviously we would have to face our obligations. Equally, I have made it clear that at no stage in my experience and I believe in my predecessor's experience has this matter been raised. The only place I can see it raised as an issue all the time is here by way of suggestion and speculation, that what is not happening is happening.
In regard to the possibility of a future departure, membership of a defence organisation in Europe, does the Minister base it now—the change in emphasis, our present neutrality and a future change in that policy—on the evolution of political co-operation? In other words, if political co-operation intensifies, in fact it follows?
No. Political co-operation does not involve co-ordination of a common foreign policy. In addition, there is as yet no common foreign policy in the Community.
At present.
If there were any such suggestions we would hope——
Would the Minister agree that the particular formulation used, that if the Community were attacked we would have to defend it is a new formulation of our position, which in the past, both by the preceding Government and the Minister's previous Government, has been formulated in somewhat different terms in relation to the possible evolution of the European Community on a federal basis?
I shall refer the Deputy to a formulation of the former Taoiseach, Mr. Lemass, in relation to this, namely, that if the occasion arose we would face our responsibilities as a member of the Community if it were under attack.
Will the Minister give the reference? I have no recollection of Mr. Lemass putting it in those terms. My understanding is that it has always been formulated in terms of the evolution of the Community.
On a point of order, last Wednesday I put down a question to the Minister, which was not ruled out of order, on the matter of consultations——
Is the question on the Order Paper?
That is my point. I am wondering why it is not on the Order Paper. The question related to consultations that take place between the Irish Government and the Holy See regarding episcopal appointments, particularly the question of the appointment of an Irish Cardinal——
Was the Deputy not notified that the question was ruled out of order?
One question was ruled out of order but the other question was not ruled out of order. However, it does not appear on the Order Paper.
I will examine the matter.
The Minister will not be in the House for some months——
The Deputy may not put a question that is not on the Order Paper.
I placed the question in the General Office last Wednesday evening.
I have said that the matter will be investigated.
By the time the Minister comes back to the House the appointment will have taken place. In view of the fact that the question was not on the Order Paper and in view of the interference by the British Government in the appointment of an Irish Cardinal——
The Deputy has been told he may not ask a question that is not on the Order Paper. It cannot be allowed under any circumstances.
In view of the fact that the question is not on the Order Paper, although it should be, will the Chair allow me a Private Notice Question?
I have told the Deputy that I will examine the matter.
It will be too late then.
The Chair cannot help that. The Deputy may not raise the question.
The point is whether the Chair will allow me a Private Notice Question in view of the failure of the House to put the question on the Order Paper and in view of the urgency of the question.
If the Deputy had given me notice earlier I would have had a chance to examine the matter.
I arrived in the House at lunch time today having been abroad and I noticed that the question was not on the Order Paper. It relates to Irish episcopal appointments, especially the appointment of an Irish Cardinal. The British Government have been interfering with this appointment——
On a recent occasion when the same thing happened and where there seemed to have been some error about a question on the Order Paper, the Chair agreed that special provision could be made.
That is the reason the Chair should be very careful not to establish a precedent. There was an occasion when Deputy Tully had some doubt and I had the matter examined carefully. I permitted the question to be raised on the adjournment.
In case there may be any misunderstanding about this. I have no doubt that the question was handed in. I did not get an opportunity of raising it because the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy would not allow the Chair to have the matter raised in this House. He tried to dodge the issue until February, but he is not going to get away with it.
On a point of order, I should like to draw the attention of the Chair to the fact that the General Office wrote on my question——
The Deputy may raise this matter elsewhere. The Chair will not permit a question to be discussed that is not on the Order Paper.
With respect, the Minister will not be in this House for three months because of the Christmas Recess——
That is not the concern of the Chair. The fact that the Minister will not be here does not give the Deputy any right——
My Question should be answered today.
Above all the concern of the Chair is to protect the rights of Deputies. If there has been an error in the office as a result of which the question was omitted from the Order Paper, in protecting the rights of Deputies the Chair has an obligation to ensure that the question will be answered within three months and that special provision will be made for it. I submit that the Chair should consider that.
While bowing to the ruling of the Chair, I will be very glad to answer the question.
The Taoiseach was not very glad to answer it and it was addressed to him first. However, in view of the Minister's offer perhaps he will answer the question. Will he tell the House if consultations have taken place on the appointment of an Irish Cardinal and what consultations have taken place?
I am calling the next question.