asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the Government's present position with respect to the Falkland Islands dispute in the light of the most recent developments in the area and in the light of the speech made by the Minister for Defence.
Private Notice Question. - Falkland Islands Crisis.
asked the Taoiseach, if, as has been reportedly said by the Minister for Defence, the Government have changed their position in regard to the Falklands/Malvinas crisis and if he will make a statement on the matter.
asked the Taoiseach if, in view of the rapidly deteriorating situation in the British-Argentine conflict, he will make a statement outlining the Government's position and give an assurance that there will be no departure from Ireland's traditional policy of neutrality.
I propose to take the questions from Deputies FitzGerald, Barry and Gregory together.
Last Sunday, 2 May, the Government issued a statement indicating their serious concern at the deteriorating situation in the South Atlantic.
We said that from the outset of the Falklands crisis the policy of the Irish Government, both at the United Nations and within the European Community, has been directed at preventing a wider conflict and promoting a negotiated, honourable settlement by diplomatic means; and that an adequate framework exists within which such a settlement can be achieved if the parties demonstrate the political will to do so.
We said that it was important that the possibilities offered by the United Nations should be fully explored and further military escalation which would only make negotiations all the more difficult avoided. We indicated our readiness to help in any way we can, through our current membership of the Security Council, to advance a diplomatic solution.
The statement re-affirmed Ireland's traditional role of neutrality in relation to armed conflicts.
I am sorry to say that the fears we expressed on Sunday have been realised.
The Government are appalled by the outbreak of what amounts to open war between Argentina and Great Britain and at reports that hundreds of lives have already been lost. They see the present situation as a serious threat to world peace. We believe that it is even more imperative now that the United Nations become involved immediately to secure an end to the present conflict.
We have, accordingly, indicated that the Irish Government will seek an immediate meeting of the Security Council in order to prepare a new resolution calling for:
(1) An immediate cessation of hostilities by both British and Argentinian forces, and
(2) The negotiation of a diplomatic settlement under the auspices of the UN.
The Irish Government regard the application of economic sanctions as no longer appropriate and will therefore be seeking the withdrawal of these sanctions by the Community.
Could I ask the Taoiseach whether the statement of the Minister for Defence quoted in today's paper was authorised in accordance with Government policy?
No, it was a personal statement by the Minister for Defence and does not represent Government policy.
I am glad of that assurance because it is a matter of concern that any Minister, on a matter as delicate as this, would make personal statements of a kind which are embarrassing to the Government and to the country. In the new resolution which the Government propose to call for, will the key element in the original Resolution 502, a call for the Argentine forces to withdraw from the Falklands, be included, because the wording the Taoiseach has just used and contained in a Government statement a short time ago does not make any reference to that but involves the call for an immediate cessation of hostilities by both sides and negotiations to find a settlement?
Our experts are considering that and other aspects of our draft resolution at present. At this stage it seems to me that, as far as Resolution 502 stands, there might not be a necessity to repeat the contents of 502 but that is a matter under consideration.
To clarify that, is it clear that the Government's position still is that the Argentine forces who were the initial aggressors must withdraw their forces from the Falkland Islands, in addition to which there should be a cessation of hostilities and negotiations——
That would be a fair statement of the general principles involved.
That is a matter about which there has been confusion and it is better to have it clarified in the House.
In view of the Taoiseach's disowning of the Minister for Defence, will the Taoiseach also ask for his resignation? Would the Taoiseach not agree that anybody who has such a diminished sense of responsibility as to make a statement like that, particularly in the sensitive Ministry he occupies, should not be a member of an Irish Government?
Deputies
Hear, hear.
I do not accept that. I do not propose to take any such action. I have discussed the matter with the Minister for Defence. He has explained to me that it was a spontaneous statement by him, almost certainly inspired by the tragic and dramatic news of the sinking of an Argentine warship with serious loss of life. That may well have been associated in his mind with the sinking of our trawler by a British submarine.
Will the Taoiseach agree that anybody who displays such a spontaneous reaction is not fit to be Minister for Defence at this sensitive time?
I would not excuse statements by individual Ministers which are not in accordance with Government policy. On the other hand, in this tensed-up situation a spontaneous reaction by an individual Minister may be at least understandable.
Will the Taoiseach not agree that it might be understandable in the case of a Minister occupying another portfolio, but not by a Minister occupying the portfolio for Defence or Justice?
Like Paddy Donegan.
A statement before lunch announced that the Irish Government regard the application of economic sanctions as no longer appropriate. The statement said the Government, therefore, would be seeking the withdrawal of these sanctions by the Community. Does that mean that the Government do not regard the sanctions as being appropriate from now, or does it mean that at the meeting on 17 May the Government will be asking for the support of our EEC colleagues not to extend sanctions for a further period.
We intend to move at the forthcoming meeting of the Foreign Ministers to suspend the sanctions from that meeting.
From the meeting on 17 May?
No, from the meeting on Saturday.
Does that mean that from that meeting the sanctions which were applied for a month will be telescoped and will go out of existence from Friday night next, with the agreement of our partners?
Yes, as being no longer appropriate with the escalating war situation.
Is it not from 17 May that the question of renewal arises? I speak subject to correction. Does that not mean that the suspension would not be from this week's meeting but from 17 May?
The meeting of Foreign Ministers will be on Saturday. At that meeting we propose to put forward for consideration by our colleagues the suggestion that because these sanctions are no longer appropriate in this almost full-scale war situation they should be suspended or cancelled from Saturday's meeting — with effect from the coming week-end.
In view of the Government's statement and of what the Taoiseach has now said vis-á-vis the statement of the Minister for Defence, can the Taoiseach clarify for the benefit of the House and the public what is the position regarding Deputy Gregory's question on our neutrality?
I categorically reaffirm our traditional position of neutrality in regard to armed conflicts. We made that statement on Sunday and I am happy to reiterate it here today.
The Taoiseach has said that he will propose that sanctions will not apply from, I presume, midnight on Saturday. However, the other EEC members have said the sanctions will be applied until 17 May. In the event of the meeting on Saturday not agreeing to the suspension of sanctions, what then will our position be?
We will go along with our Community partners. Whatever our Community partners decide on Saturday, naturally we will go along with that decision. We will make our own proposition to our Community partners.
So we will not be withdrawing the sanctions unilaterally.
What representations have we made to Britain and to Argentina in regard to this conflict? Has our Ambassador in London or the Minister for Foreign Affairs underlined for the British what General Haig said, that in the end there will be no military solution to the Falkland crisis?
We have made that clear at all levels available to us.