andMr. O'Keeffe asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the developments, if any, in the “new and closer political co-operation” between Ireland and the UK announced in the communique following his May meeting with Mrs. Thatcher, the British Prime Minister.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Ireland—UK Relations .
1.
Dr. FitzGerald
: Since I believe that a solution to the Northern Ireland problem can be achieved in the context of closer political co-operation between Ireland and the United Kingdom, the development of such co-operation is an objective of Government policy and is pursued consistently and on a continuing basis.
: Even in the Taoiseach's terms, that is a mass of meaningless and incomprehensible verbiage. Could he possibly answer my question to outline the developments that have taken place in the "new and closer political co-operation"? What has actually happened?
: As I said, it is a continuing process. Quite a number of meetings are held at official and ministerial level. It is also agreed that myself and the Prime Minister of Great Britain should meet from time to time on a regular basis.
: We all know all that, but what actually happened at the last meeting? What Ministers have met to discuss what topics and what was the outcome?
: Various Ministers have met—the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Defence, Transport, and Fisheries, and the Ministers of State at the Departments of Education and Industry, Commerce and Tourism. Meetings go on all the time at Ministerial and official levels.
: And these are official meetings with Ministers——
: A question, please.
: ——not just in the corridors of Brussels? What was discussed by the Ministers for Defence when they met?
: That was a routine meeting; it was of no particular significance.
: What does the Taoiseach mean by "routine meeting"? Meetings between the Irish and British Ministers for Defence have not been common for the past 60 years. What could be routine about it? It is news to me that such a meeting has taken place, because I cannot recall offhand any such meeting.
: At that meeting the Minister for Defence was representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
: It had nothing to do with Defence?
: No.
: I am glad I got an answer to that.
: This is so nonsensical I will not bother asking supplementaries. The Taoiseach has done enough to expose himself——
: The Deputy keeps using that indecent phrase.
: It depends on one's mind.