asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the foreign policy considerations which led the Government to request the Irish Olympics Council to boycott the Moscow Olympic Games.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Moscow Olympic Games.
14.
As the Deputy is aware and as was brought out in the Government statement of 16 May, the decision of the Government to recommend against participation in the Olympic Games was taken in the light of the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan. This has resulted in a situation where it is not possible to ensure that the established character of the Olympic Games will be upheld. The Government had hoped to see conditions restored in which the games could take place successfully. In an effort to achieve this Ireland joined its partners in the Nine in putting forward a proposal which would allow Afghanistan to resume its neutral and non-aligned status. This would include a withdrawal of foreign troops and an end to foreign interference there. Unfortunately, this has not yet happened, although there are proposals on the table.
In all of these events the major concern of the Government is that the current dangerous tensions in international relations should be reduced. This means, first and foremost, that the principles laid down in the UN Charter must be upheld. As the Government said in their statement of 16 May, it is our hope that this can still be achieved through dialogue and negotiation.
Would the Minister tell the House why Ireland, within the context of the Nine, did not adopt the position of positive neutrality on the Moscow Olympic Games which the French and Danish Governments adopted.
The Government made a decision that because of the number of withdrawals from participation the games had radically changed and, in conjunction with a number of our Community partners, we decided to recommend that our athletes do not participate. We also made it quite clear that, as a free democracy, our athletes were free to go and many of them decided to go. That is their business.
Would the Minister agree that with West Germany we are the odd men out in Europe in this regard? Does he recollect that not too long ago in this House he told us that the Irish Olympic Committee would not be subject to financial blackmail by the Government because of any decision they might make? Would he not agree that the Government decision to suspend the financial grant they were to have paid for the athletes to go to the Olympics——
A brief supplementary, please.
——is effectively an interference with their right to go?
Seven of the Nine EEC members states have taken the same stance as Ireland.
I think it was the other way around. We took the same stance as six others.
Deputy Horgan is wrong in what he is suggesting. We are in the same company as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Luxembourg and Belgium. Two countries, France and Denmark, decided not to recommend to their athletes one way or the other. This Government stands particularly high this year as regards sporting grants. All the funds committed to various sporting organisations are and will be allocated. The grants to meet the expenses for sending our athletes to Moscow are not, of course, being allocated.
When was the Government decision to which the Minister referred taken? Why were our athletes left in a state of confusion as to the Government's intention for so long?
This matter unfortunately had become highly politicised and anybody who suggests otherwise is a fool. The Government at the end of the day had to take a political decision.
That was the reason for the Government's decision?
Deputy Quinn to ask a final supplementary.
Would the Minister agree that this Government, who are allegedly neutral, have contributed to the politicisation of the Moscow Olympic Games? Could he say if they have any proposals to ensure that future games will not be so politicised?
That is a separate question.
One thing is certain. We did not contribute to the politicisation of the games. The Deputy knows where the blame lies.
Question No. 15 will be taken as written.