asked the Taoiseach if in relation to his meeting with Deputy Síle de Valera on Friday 28 September the Government Information Services informed the press of this meeting.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Taoiseach-Deputy Síle de Valera Meeting.
8.
I presume that the Deputy is referring to my meeting with Deputy Síle de Valera on Friday, 7 September. In answer to a newspaper query, I instructed the Government Press Secretary to confirm that I had met the Deputy on that date.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the press were told at one stage that the meeting did not take place? Will he agree that denials of such a nature in relation to a meeting at which, presumably, he stressed the primacy of power-sharing in Northern Ireland—and that is the centre of his policy as enunciated here today and recently—would seem to sow doubt at home and abroad on the support enjoyed for that policy by members of his own party?
I do not see the connection——
That is outside the terms of the original question.
The Taoiseach has said he does not see the connection——
I have told the Deputy his question is outside the terms of the original question. I am calling Deputy Kelly.
I shall come back to it in a supplementary question.
On the basis that the interview referred to in the answer was an interview not between Deputy Lynch as Taoiseach and somebody else but as leader of his party and one of his Deputies, does the Taoiseach know of any precedent for a question of this kind being answered by a Taoiseach? Since, to my knowledge, there is no such precedent, why did he not refuse to answer it as he generally refuses to answer questions——
The question on the Order Paper refers to the Government Information Services.
I should like to reply to Deputy O'Leary and Deputy Kelly together. I did not give the Press Secretary any permission whatever to tell the press that I had such a meeting. He was asked by the press and apparently he told them—he did not tell the press a lie—that it was indicated to Deputy de Valera from a very high source in the party that the speech should not be delivered, that it was not in conformity in all aspects with Government policy. It was only when the Government Press Secretary came back to me again saying that he was being pressed by the news media as to whether such a meeting took place that I said then that he could say to the press that such a meeting took place. That answers Deputy Kelly's question.
Is the Taoiseach aware that during the course of his reply Deputy Síle de Valera was shaking her head?
(Interruptions.)
Order. I am calling the next question.
The question was put down only because of the serious moment of the meeting which took place. Will the Taoiseach agree that in the event of any future meetings proving necessary between himself and any other members of his party that there will be no ambiguity in relation to the press?
Deputy Blaney, to put the last supplementary on this question.
Will the Taoiseach state whether the lengthy replies he gave today is now the up-to-date Fianna Fáil policy——
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 9.
(Interruptions.)
Order, please.