asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will indicate when he first communicated officially to the Irish Rugby Football Union the Government's position in relation to the proposed visit of the South African rugby team and when he received back from the Irish Rugby Football Union a formal indication of their position on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - South African Rugby Team.
3.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, following the decision of the Irish Rugby Football Union not to withdraw the invitation to a South African rugby team to visit Ireland, the Government reluctantly concluded that they should not allow the visit to take place. The reasons for the Government's decision on 18 September last were outlined in a statement issued at the time, which followed an earlier statement issued by me on 4 September indicating the Government's opposition to the tour.
The Government's general attitude of opposition to apartheid in sport has been outlined on many occasions; their support for the Olympic principle of non-discrimination in sport was communicated directly to national sporting organisations, including the IRFU in 1976. As regards official communications with the IRFU in the present instance, when details of the proposed tour became known, I made known my views in the statement of 4 September to which I have referred and this was communicated to the IRFU on 6 September. The IRFU's response of 10 September was the first official communication the Government received from the union in the matter. Subsequently, following further contacts between my Department and the IRFU, the union informed me by letter dated 14 September of their decision not to withdraw the invitation.
Am I in order inquiring about the health of the Ceann Comhairle, while not in any way undermining or impugning the ruling of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on questions?
I can assure the Deputy that the Ceann Comhairle is much better. I am sure that the rulings of the Ceann Comhairle and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle are much alike.
I do not know if I heard the Minister's reply correctly. Am I correct in assuming that prior to 4 September neither his Department nor the Minister himself communicated directly with the IRFU indicating his specific objection to the tour of this multiracial South African team?
In terms of a direct communication related specifically to this tour the Deputy is correct. However, I should draw his attention to what I have said. The consistent policy followed by all Governments and the communication sent to, among others, the IRFU in 1976 and statements made on numerous occasions since by me are matters of public knowledge of which the IRFU are aware.
Does the Minister not agree, having regard to the multiracial nature of this team that it was open to possible interpretation by the IRFU that the statement issued by the previous Government in 1976 might not necessarily apply and that in order to pursue the policy clearly laid down by previous Governments—and I recognise the contribution made by them——
I do not wish to make a distinction in this matter.
I am not making a distinction. I recognise that. I should like to add that I welcome the decision the Minister eventually made. I am simply asking if the Minister agrees that it would have been preferable if he had written directly to the IRFU prior to 4 September indicating to them his position in this regard, which was something he did subsequently on 18 September.
I specifically did this on 4 September. In view of known positions as stated on occasions and communicated to the IRFU, it might have been preferable had they been in doubt about the matter if they had communication with us before issuing an invitation. If they did that they might have been guided by our position. With regard to the racially mixed composition of the team, while any developments of this kind are obviously welcome, as the statement of 18 September pointed out, "it seems that the local organisation of many sports in South Africa, including rugby football, unhappily continue to be largely determined by the organisation of society in South Africa on the racially segregated basis of the apartheid system." As the Government statement said, "in the circumstances, the Olympic principle of non-discrimination cannot be satisfactorily observed".