asked the Taoiseach whether any consideration is being given to joint defence arrangements between this country, Britain and other countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Joint Defence Arrangements.
4.
The Government's position as regards defence policy has been stated on numerous occasions in the past. There is no proposal in existence for any change in that policy.
Would the Taoiseach agree that our non-involvement in any military arrangements at present confers, in the context of our membership of the EEC, a special significance on our relationship with countries in the rest of the world and that it probably gives us a better platform from which to defend peace than any altered arrangement would?
The fact that we are not members of any military alliance certainly enables us to play a role in the UN, for instance, that we would not otherwise be able to play in so far as peace-keeping operations and matters of that sort are concerned.
Would the Taoiseach agree that there is, unfortunately, as far as we can see, a very serious deterioration in east-west relations for a number of reasons and that again confers a special significance? We cannot exaggerate our importance in the world but would the Taoiseach agree that, again in the context of our membership of the EEC, we can play a role out of all proportion to our size in the world on the side of peace by retaining non-alliance status?
I do not think that we have ever sought non-alliance status. We are not a member of any military alliance and it is that non-membership of any military alliance that makes us very valuable to the UN from time to time.
Would the Taoiseach agree that our neutralist stance should not be confined exclusively to a peace-keeping role vis-à-vis the UN and that it has much wider connotations than the narrow circumspection which the Taoiseach is now implying would apply?
No, I am dealing with the question of membership or non-membership of a military alliance. I might facilitate the House on this matter by informing the House that it is the intention of the Government to put down a motion for debate next Tuesday which will enable Deputies to contribute in this area.
When will we see that motion?
Would the Taoiseach accept that the Government's apparent equivocation on the very clear black and white situation of neutrality is leading other countries as well as people in this country to doubt this country's position which in its own interest and in the interests of the reputation of the EEC ought to be a policy of absolute military neutrality so as not to attract the hostile action of any foreign country towards this country?
As I said, we will have an opportunity next Tuesday to debate these matters fully. In the meantime I want to reiterate what I said in my reply, that there is no proposal in existence for any change in our present policy. I might remind the House also of the provision of Article 29 of the Constitution which indicates that if the State is a party to any international agreement that international agreement must be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Deputy Cluskey.
May I draw attention to Article 28 which says that only the Dáil has the right to involve this country in a war——
Deputy Cluskey.
——and therefore it is not open to this House or to the Government to make any——
I assure Deputy Ryan that this Government have no intention of going to war.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Cluskey. Would Deputy Ryan please obey the Chair?
I am asking the Taoiseach——
I am sorry, I have called Deputy Cluskey.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that different and contrary reports of what is under consideration by the study group regarding a defence pact and the constitutional position of Northern Irelans are heightening very considerably the tensions within Northern Ireland and making a dangerous situation even more dangerous? Would he not further agree that a clear and unequivocal statement by him as to whether or not the constitutional position of Northern Ireland is or will be under discussion at the study group and a clear unequivocal statement that we do not and will not form any common defence pact with Britain or any other country would lead to a very considerable lessening of the tensions and dangers within Northern Ireland at present?
I will deal with all these matters fully next Tuesday. In the meantime, I wish to say that I think the process of studies which has been embarked upon can do nothing but good and will contribute to the betterment of relations between these islands, all the peoples of these islands, and that nobody has or should have anything to fear from that process.
A final supplementary from Deputy Cluskey.
I agree with the Taoiseach that most of the areas which have been mentioned for joint studies would be beneficial to all concerned. The two I have specifically mentioned, the possibility of the constitutional position of Northern Ireland being under discussion and the possibility of a joint defence pact with Great Britain——
A question, please.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that these two areas are heightening tensions to a very dangerous degree and that, if the Taoiseach was in a position to answer and clarify this next Tuesday, would he not accept that the urgency of the matter dictates that he defuse the matter now and clarify those two positions now? I am sure the Taoiseach appreciates that life can be lost in Northern Ireland between now and next Tuesday, so it is a matter of very considerable urgency.
The Deputy, on the one hand, is calling on me for a full statement and, at the same time, he is not prepared to wait until I have an opportunity of making a full statement. I do not think one can make a full statement on complex and difficult subjects at Question Time. I do not accept that the process of studies which has been undertaken should be, or is, a cause for any disquiet anywhere. I regret that Deputy Cluskey, in particular, since this process started has sought to do nothing but undermine what is an entirely beneficial process.
It is a shameful thing to say that about Deputy Cluskey. He has never undermined the State, which is more than can be said for people on the other side.
Why did the Deputy refuse to take part in the debate the other night, he ran away from it?
May I ask a final supplementary?
A very brief one.
Would the Taoiseach state on what occasions and in what way I have ever undermined the talks? Could I further ask him is he not aware, as every one else is, that his misrepresentation——
Please, Deputy.
——of what took place at the summit——
A question please.
—— is feeding Paisleyism?
This is argument.
(Interruptions).
Has the Taoiseach no sense of responsibility at all?
Ceist 5.
I will leave it to the better judgment of the House as to who is acting responsibly in this matter. It would be very helpful to the government if Deputy Cluskey would make up his mind what he wants. He asked for a debate on defence, we offered him a full debate next Tuesday and I gather he is running away from that too.
Ceist 5, please.