asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government opposes the passage of legislation in US State Legislatures requiring adherence to the McBride Principles by American companies investing in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - US States' Legislation.
24.
Legislation has been adopted or is being considered in the State Legislatures of a number of individual states in the United States requiring adherence to the McBride Principles. Such legislation so far adopted refers to American companies located in Northern Ireland in which public funds in the State concerned are invested. The passage of such legislation is a matter for the State concerned. In regard to the McBride Principles the Government have no difficulty in supporting the main aim of the McBride Principles, namely the elimination discrimination in employment in Northern Ireland. As the Deputy is aware the Anglo-Irish Agreement sets out the commitment of the Irish and British Governments to a society in Northern Ireland free from discrimination and intolerance. The Intergovernmental Conference established under the agreement is concerned with the avoidance of economic and social discrimination.
Does the Minister agree that there is a serious and continuing problem of discrimination against Catholics in Northern Ireland which is well documented by the Fair Employment Agency?
I do.
Is the Minister aware that in an interview with the Irish Echo on 9 May 1985 the Taoiseach stated that laws against discrimination were not being adequately enforced and that some pressure along the lines of the McBride Principles to ensure that American firms live up to the standards they should be living up to would help. Can the Minister explain why in the light of the Taoiseach's remarks, Irish diplomats in the States are lobbying against the McBride Principles by implying that they might lead to disinvestment? Does the Minister stand over the Consul General's letter on 20 March 1986 to Senator Ohrenstein which seeks to dissuade him from supporting the McBride Principles.
That is a misrepresentation. The Deputy did not see the Consul General's letter. He saw an account of it in a newspaper report. When he quoted from the Irish Echo he should have also stated “We are concerned here with a different point and that is the suggestion that there should be disinvestment in Northern Ireland. Because the problem of unemployment in Northern Ireland is so enormous with 21 per cent unemployed we would not want action which would withdraw investment and lead to disemployment. We would not be in favour of disinvestment but we are very much in favour of and have ourselves taken up with the British Government on many occasions, the question of ensuring an end to discrimination”.
As the Minister casts doubt on my interpretation of the contents of the letter and as the Minister has the letter, will he please read it?
Have I permission to do so?
Of course, you have. The Minister's predecessor, Dr. Cruise O'Brien, read some of my letters.
It is Question Time. The following is the letter from the Consul General in New York to the State legislators in New York or Massachusetts, I am not sure which:
As is well known the minority (Nationalist) Community in Northern Ireland has been discriminated against over the years in various cases and has borne and continues to bear a greater share of unemployment than the majority (Unionist) community does. The chronically high rates of unemployment in minority areas have been a significant factor in nationalist alienation from the institutions of government in Northern Ireland. The Irish Government have consistently drawn attention to and has worked to end discrimination in employment in Northern Ireland and will continue to do so.
There are, however, certain factors and circumstances unique to Northern Ireland, which militate against an easy resolution of the unsatisfactory job situation currently obtaining there.
(i) The gravity of the job situation is dramatically illustrated when one refers to the decline which has taken place in the numbers engaged in manufacturing employment in Northern Ireland from 170,000 in 1974 to 100,000 now, 15,000 of whom are directly dependent on public subsidy.
(ii) At least some enterprises located in exclusively Unionist or Nationalist areas are likely to continue to attract workers from those communities only, for the foreseeable future.
(iii) In addition, for so long as prospects for expanding existing employment are not encouraging, efforts to enforce affirmative action to benefit the minority at the expense of the majority would exacerbate bitterness between the communities rather than promote reconciliation, which is the aim of the Irish Government.
It is against this background, as well as because of the desire to create new employment opportunities through additional investment, that the Irish Government is looking to the implementation of the Anglo-Irish Agreement as the best means of, among other things, resolving the present unsatisfactory jobs situation. The Social Democratic and Labour Party of John Hume, which secured 65 per cent of the Nationalist vote in the most recent Northern Ireland election, fully supports the Irish Government's position on the Agreement. The Agreement, which was signed by the Taoiseach Dr. Garret FitzGerald and the British Prime Minister on 15 November 1985, set up an Intergovernmental Conference which, among other matters, concerns itself with the avoidance of economic and social discrimination in Northern Ireland. Moreover, the Conference provides a framework within which the Irish Government may put forward views and proposals on the role and composition of such bodies as the Fair Employment Agency and the Equal Opportunities Commission. It is our view that the scrupulous application of the existing fair employment legislation, and its review in the future, combined with the Irish Government's input into the Conference will have a beneficial effect in ensuring equality of treatment for both sections of the community which is one of the principal objectives of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
As to the specific economic needs of Northern Ireland, it is evident that increased employment on a non-discriminatory basis through increased investment is urgently required in the area. For this reason, among others, we believe that, while the philosophy underlying the MacBride Principles presents no difficulties for us, any action which, in the serious economic situation of Northern Ireland, might lead to disinvestment and to the discouragement of US firms investing in Northern Ireland should be avoided. Were the investment climate there to be adversely affected at this time the purposes of the Anglo-Irish Agreement would be seriously undermined.
Under the Agreement measures are in train to create an international fund to which the US and other governments would contribute to promote the economic and social development of those areas of both parts of Ireland which have suffered most seriously from the consequences of instability there in recent years. The US House of Representatives has already unanimously approved a proposal to provide $250 million in aid to the fund. The Irish Government will ensure that disbursements from the fund will be applied on a non-discriminatory basis, with full respect for equality of opportunity and will address the needs of both communities in Northern Ireland.
Does the Minister still hold the view that the contents of that letter could not lead to disinvestment in Northern Ireland?
One of the purposes of the letter was to avoid disinvestment in Northern Ireland, not to encourage it.