asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he is satisfied with the position the Twelve have taken in relation to South African sanctions; if the Government have any plans to impose unilateral sanctions: and, if so, of what nature.
13.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - South African Sanctions.
12.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he considers the limited sanctions against South Africa agreed to by the EC in September to be an adequate response to the evils of apartheid; if the Government will now follow the example set by Denmark and introduce their own programme of sanctions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
19.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he proposes to take against South Africa in order to implement the principle advocated by the majority of EC member states, including Ireland, at the meeting of 16 September 1986, during which a disappointing package of sanctions was adopted.
I propose to take Question Nos. 12, 13 and 19 together.
The Foreign Ministers of the 12 member states of the EC, meeting in Brussels on 16 September, considered the question of the Twelve policy towards South Africa in the light of the decision made at The Hague European Council in June last. At the European Council it was agreed by the Twelve that consideration would be given to the adoption of further restrictive measures within three months after consultation with other industrialised countries and after a further attempt by the Presidency to establish conditions within which a genuine regional dialogue could be commenced in South Africa. I would draw the attention of the Deputy to the statement made by the Taoiseach in the Dáil on 3 July 1986 (Vol. 368, column 2221) in which he reported on the outcome of the European Council.
The Foreign Ministers decided on 16 September to suspend imports of iron, steel and gold coins from South Africa and ban new investment in that country. Most partners, including Ireland, were in favour of adopting further common measures, including in particular a ban on the import of coal from South Africa, but there was no consensus among the 12 on this; the Presidency is continuing to seek consensus on this point on the basis of the statement of the European Council. I am arranging to have copies of the statements made by the Twelve at the European Council in June and the Foreign Ministers' ministerial meeting in September placed in the Library of the House.
Ireland will continue to work towards the adoption of further common measures by the Twelve with regard to South Africa including in particular a ban on imports of coal. This is in accordance with the long held view of the Government that the most effective means of successfully putting pressure on the South African Government peacefully to abandon apartheid lies in the application of measures commanding the widest possible international agreement and support. Ireland will work towards achieving agreement on such measures both within the European Community and at the United Nations and the Government consider such measures to be preferable to and more effective than any unilateral action Ireland might take.
Would the Minister agree that the European position on South African sanctions is pathetically weak even compared with the position of the US? Having regard to the attitude of the British Prime Minister and the German Chancellor as effectively upholding and prolonging the evil system of apartheid, is the Minister putting any public pressure on the British and German Governments to change their attitudes? Will he consider at the next meeting when the matter will be discussed following the lead of the US and imposing a unilateral ban on coal imports from South Africa and requiring South African citizens to have visas?
Of course we would have wished to have seen the EC go further than they did but, as the Deputy knows, political co-operation operates on the basic consensus which effectively means at the speed of the slowest boat. We have also imposed a ban on fruit and vegetables and we had hoped by taking that unilateral action that it would be an example to other countries to follow as far as we went. That was not so. Nobody else followed us. Therefore, that points to the fact that unilateral action perhaps is not the wisest course. In consensus there is no doubt that the effective ban by the Twelve on, say, new investment in South Africa is far more effective with regard to putting pressure on the South African Government to end the system of apartheid which is so damaging to the majority population there than was the unilateral action of banning fruit and vegetable imports by the Irish Government. When we can get common positions with the Twelve they are far more effective than any one action any one state can take. Yes, I will continue my efforts at the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council when this matter comes up for discussion, which I think is in about three weeks. I will continue my efforts to get more action. We must balance that action. We do not want to damage the South African economy, we want to put pressure on the South African Government to change the system of government so that the black population will have equal rights with the white population.
Deputy Mac Giolla, you are in difficulty. It has gone 3.30 p.m. and I must move now to questions nominated for priority.