asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement outlining clearly the policy of the Government on the question of Ireland becoming a member of NATO, in the light of the Taoiseach's reply to a query at the London press conference of 21 May 1980.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - NATO Membership.
8.
The Government's position on this matter has been stated many times in the past. Ireland is not a member of any military alliance and at present there is no proposal in existence for any change in our defence policy.
Would the Minister allay the disquiet felt by quite a number of people on the fact that there appeared to be an equivocal response by the Taoiseach at the London Press Conference and again, to some extent, today in the House by the Minister when in particular, he uses the words "at present"?
All I can talk about is the present.
Would the Minister not accept that there——
A question, please.
——should be a clearly defined policy on the part of this nation that we not alone are not members of NATO—everybody knows that—but that will not be members of NATO? Would the Minister accept that this is necessary, in view of a certain amount of equivocation on the part of the Taoiseach in London, bearing in mind——
The Deputy is making a statement. Would he ask a supplementary question, please?
The Deputy is doing well enough, now.
Would the Minister make it clear to the House that there is no intention whatever of our joining NATO?
First of all, I want to make it quite clear that we are not a member of any military alliance ——
We all know that.
——and if the Deputy wishes I shall remove the words "at present" and say that there is no proposal of any nature in existence, nor has there been any such proposal put to us for any change in our defence policy.
Thank you.
I cannot be more positive than that.
Could I ask the Minister if our traditional position regarding neutrality or our alignment with any military force is under review at present? Are there any discussions, either internally within the Government, within the party, or within the EEC, taking place regarding our attitude towards NATO?
Absolutely none. There are no such discussions taking place at any level, internally or externally, in regard to this matter.
When the Minister gives that undertaking, for what it is worth, does that include what went on in the private conversations with Mrs. Thatcher?
I was not present at the private conversations.
It does not include those.
I am only talking about proposals put to the Irish Government.
There have been no discussions at any level whether externally or internally?
That is the position.
Could I ask the Minister, in relation to the Press Conference which took place after the joint meeting in London in which the Taoiseach referred to closer political co-operation between the two States, is it correct for me, or for any Member of this House, to infer from the reply of the Minister for Foreign Affairs today that the question of closer political co-operation between Britain and Ireland will not in any way, involve Ireland becoming a member or an associate of the NATO alliance?
What I am saying here is that it does not arise at the moment. I am not going to put up a looking glass and seek to ascertain the future. As of now, there is no such proposal.
Perhaps, I did not phrase my question correctly.
A final supplementary, Deputy Quinn.
My question is prompted by the Taoiseach's statement in the media about closer political co-operation with the United Kingdom.
A question, please.
I am simply asking the Minister does the reference to closer political co-operation involve, in any way, Ireland becoming associated with or partly involved with, the NATO military alliance?
There is no question of identifying closer political co-operation with membership of a certain military alliance. Closer political co-operation is quite a different matter. The Taoiseach gave an illustration of what is meant by that by saying that there was an obvious anomaly in regard to British residents in Ireland not having a franchise while Irish residents in Britain had. That was an example of ensuring equality in a sensible manner. There is no identifying of closer political co-operation with membership of a military alliance. They are two separate concepts.
We cannot spend all day on this question. A final supplementary from Deputy Collins.
Can the Minister deny that there are discussions in the EEC about a common defence policy? If there were can I take it from the Minister's reply that Ireland would not join such a defence policy?
I did not say that at all. That is a completely different question. There are no such discussions at the present time.
That is a completely different question. A final supplementary, Deputy Deasy.
The Minister stated that there had been no proposals in the EEC about Ireland joining NATO. May I ask if there have been approaches from any individual member of the EEC about such membership?
No.
That does not arise on this question.