asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action the Government have taken to implement the ILO Declaration concerning the policy of apartheid in South Africa adopted by the International Labour Conference in June 1981 and, in particular, the action the Government have taken: (1) to sever political, cultural, sport, commercial and diplomatic relations with the South African Government and to ensure that all existing cultural agreements with South Africa be revoked forthwith: (2) to stop public and private investment by withdrawing credit guarantees and licences and introduce effective enforcement clauses in codes of conduct for companies investing in South Africa; (3) to discourage emigration of their nationals to South Africa; (4) to discourage tourism to South Africa; (5) to increase economic support to those African countries which are forced through their geographical and economic situation to maintain links with South Africa, with particular emphasis on independent African States enclaved within South Africa and immediately neighbouring South Africa; (6) to withold recognition to "bantustans", ensuring that no investments are made therein; (7) to give material and moral support to the liberation movement to the black majority workers in their efforts to organise and to popular movements struggling for the establishment of human rights in South Africa and Namibia; and (8) to lift all impediments which prevent trade unions from participating in solidarity action with the workers in the antiapartheid struggle.
Written Answers. - Apartheid Policy.
Ireland supported the adoption of the updated "Declaration concerning the Policy of Apartheid of the Republic of South Africa" by the International Labour Conference in June 1981. The action taken by the Government to implement the provisions of the declaration is in full accordance with their general policy of strongly opposing, by all appropriate means, South Africa's apartheid system.
In response to the specific points raised by the Deputy, Ireland does not maintain diplomatic relations with the Government of South Africa and the question of their termination does not therefore arise. Similarly, there are no cultural agreements between Ireland and South Africa. The Government's opposition to sporting contacts with South Africa is well known: they strongly condemn all contacts that would be in breach of the Olympic principle of non-discrimination in sport, and they have taken appropriate steps to prevent or discourage such contacts.
The Government do not encourage trade or other economic relations with South Africa and State-sponsored bodies do not maintain operations there. There is no Irish public investment in South Africa. I understand that the amount of private investment is negligible, and such investment is not supported by credit guarantees or other arrangements involving the State. The Government support the code of conduct adopted by the ten member states of the European Community in respect of subsidiaries of European companies in South Africa. At present, there are no Irish companies operating in South Africa to which the code would apply, and the question of implementing the reporting arrangements laid down in the code does not therefore arise. In view of the situation in South Africa, the Government discourage emigration to that country; nevertheless they fully recognise the right of the individual citizen to foreign travel.
The Government are fully conscious of the need to assist those countries which are forced through their geographical and economic situation to maintain links with South Africa. Two of these countries, Zambia and Lesotho, are among those selected as priority countries for the Bilateral Development Co-operation Programme. Lesotho, which is encircled by South Africa, receives a significant proportion of the total funds disbursed under this programme. At the multilateral level, the Government are continuing to make substantial contributions through the Southern African funds established by the United Nations General Assembly. These funds are used to support the victims of apartheid and of South Africa's destabilising policies in the region.
The Government do not recognise any of the "bantustans" created by South Africa. They support the efforts of those who strive for the achievement of human rights in South Africa and Namibia, and they are concerned at the continued denial of these rights to the great majority of the people of these countries.