andMr. Harte asked the Taoiseach if it is his intention to seek an early meeting with Mrs. Thatcher to discuss Northern Ireland.
2.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meeting with British Prime Minister.
1.
asked the Taoiseach if he has conveyed the Government's current policy on Northern Ireland to the British Government, if he will outline this policy and if he has any firm arrangement to meet the British Prime Minister on this and related matters.
3.
asked the Taoiseach if he has under consideration an early meeting with the British Prime Minister to discuss Anglo-Irish relations; if not, if he has received any request for such a meeting.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3 together.
At my press conference on 7 December 1979, in my statement in this House on 13 December 1979, and, most recently, in my address to the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis on 16 February 1980, copies of which are available in the Library, I set out the major principles of the policy on Northern Ireland which the Government will pursue.
In my Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis address I suggested that the two sovereign Governments should work together to find a formula that will lift the situation on to a new plane, and bring permanent peace and stability to the people of these islands.
There are no plans at present for an early meeting with the British Prime Minister but I expect I shall be meeting with the Prime Minister in the normal way at the next European Council meeting in Brussels at the end of March.
The Government will avail of every opportunity that may arise to promote our policy directly and through ministerial, diplomatic and political channels so that, in co-operation with the British Government and the people of the North, we can bring about a just, peaceful and lasting solution.
Is it the Taoiseach's intention in his proposed discussion with the British Government to seek a conference involving the parties elected by the people of Northern Ireland to represent them as well as the representatives of the two sovereign Governments?
I am not at this stage laying down any pre-conditions.
Would the Taoiseach agree that this is scarcely a precondition?
The elected representatives of the people of Northern Ireland would have to be involved.
Informed, is that their role?
Fully involved.
I am sorry, I misheard the Taoiseach.
Is the Taoiseach's intention at the first meeting with Mrs. Thatcher to ask her to declare Britain's commitment to withdrawal from her involvement in the Six Counties of Northern Ireland?
We cannot go into all aspects of Northern Ireland.
Surely we can go into the central one.
If we prolong the question in this manner we will be going into debate.
It is no way deviating from the question.
My first meeting with Mrs. Thatcher will probably be at the next Summit Meeting in Brussels where I doubt if the opportunity will arise for a detailed discussion such as suggested by the Deputy.
We know that summit meetings do not lend themselves to detailed discussions on other matters, but in view of the Taoiseach's statement that the solution to the Northern Ireland question was at the heart of the political aspirations of the Government, was he not somewhat slow in seeking an urgent meeting with Mrs. Thatcher to put the view of what I understand to be his policy, seeking a declaration of withdrawal by the British from Northern Ireland?
The British Government are being made fully aware what our policy is, the aims of our policy and the fact that it is our first political priority. Meetings will be taking place very soon between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Members of the British Government. These meetings will be availed of to convey the urgency we feel about this matter.
Could that be interpreted by the British Government as somewhat down-grading the priority which the Taoiseach and the Government see if he does not see it appropriate at all times——
A question, Deputy. We are getting into the realm of argument now.
While recognising the limits of the terms of reference of the conference at present under way in Northern Ireland, but nothing the separate discussions on a wider agenda which involve in particular the SDLP, does the Taoiseach not feel that it may have been unwise to allow himself in his Ard-Fheis speech to appear to be dismissive of the conference and to ignore these second-level discussions?
No, I was very careful in my Ard-Fheis speech to be in no way dismissive of the conference at present taking place. My statement in regard to it has, I understand, been appreciated by a large number of those involved. I repeat that while any results of that conference which would help to ameliorate the situation in Northern Ireland will be very welcome, nevertheless it could not of itself provide the final answer.
Did the Taoiseach give any consideration, before making this speech and before subsequent correspondence, to the possible effect it might have on the future of that conference?
Yes, I considered it very carefully. Indeed, I was anxious, to use Deputy FitzGerald's phrase, not to be dismissive of the conference but to award it the importance that I feel it deserves and to indicate quite clearly its worth and that if anything could emerge from it it would be welcome.
A very different impression has been conveyed to many people and the Taoiseach is now seeking to put that right. Would he agree that the absence of any reference to the second-level discussions which were achieved with such effort by the SDLP and to which they attach importance was an unfortunate omission?
I said in my Ard-Fheis speech that I awarded the constitutional conference the importance which I think it deserves and I did indicate——
We are not talking about that. We are talking about a second-level discussion which the SDLP had to negotiate so hard to get.
The information available to me indicates that the SDLP leadership is quite satisfied about my Ard-Fheis speech.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
That avoids the question.
Is it the intention of the Taoiseach to attend or to direct any of his Ministers to attend a secret meeting with the British Government or the British Prime Minister to renegotiate all or any part of an agreement on border action that was negotiated by his predecessor?
No. That is unaltered.
No change?
No change is contemplated.
Could I ask the Taoiseach whether the Northern Ireland policy of the Fianna Fáil Party preparation of which was announced in February 1978 will be prepared and agreed before the meeting proposed by the British Government?
I am at a loss to understand the question.
The Taoiseach may be well versed in other matters, but he may not be aware that at the Ard-Fheis two years ago it was announced that Fianna Fáil were preparing a policy document on Northern Ireland. Will this be ready and agreed within the party before substantive discussions take place with the British Government?
The policy on Northern Ireland was clearly and specifically enunciated by me and was enthusiastically endorsed by the 49th Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis this year.
There is to be no policy document. That is gone by the board.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 4. Order, please.