I propose to take Question Nos. 1 and 3 together.
On 18 June I informed the Dáil that I had that day instructed our Ambassador in Rome, who is accredited also to Libya, to make an immediate demarche to the Libyan People's Bureau in Rome and to follow this up by an urgent visit to Tripoli in order to make clear our grave concern about any support or renewal of support by Libya for the Provisional IRA.
On 25 June I reported to the Dáil on the outcome of the Ambassador's visit. I explained that he had, on my instructions, made very clear that any support, moral or material, of the IRA is unacceptable to the Irish Government. As I informed the Dail on 4 July, the Ambassador had further discussions in Tripoli on 1 July when he sought to obtain from the Libyan authorities satisfactory assurances that they will not in any way encourage the enemies of the democratically elected institutions of this State. The Ambassador did not receive such satisfactory assurances.
As a consequence of the unsatisfactory response of the Libyan authorities the Government decided on 3 July last that while student trainee programmes already in operation may continue until completed no new programmes should commence and no additional Libyans should be allowed to join existing programmes after that date.
I regret to have to note in the intervening period reported remarks of the Libyan leader Colonel Gadaffi in an interview with RTE on 4 September at the Harare Summit of Non-Aligned Nations in which the Libyan leader once again expressed support for the IRA. I reiterate that the Government view with very grave concern the continued expressions of public support of the Libyan leadership for those in this country who attempt to promote political objectives by violence or the threat of violence. Libya, or any country which supports international terrorism, cannot expect to have normal relations with Ireland or with any of our partners in the 12.