Vol. 374 No. 10
asked the Taoiseach if, in view of his reported criticisms of the activities of the British Ambassador, he has informed the ambassador of his displeasure; and if, in view of the urgent public importance of this, he will make a statement on the matter.
2.
asked the Taoiseach the protest, if any, he is making to the British Government about meetings between the ambassador accredited to this country and representatives of the Government and Opposition parties.
3.
asked the Taoiseach if the Government press secretary was expressing the views of the Government in stating that there is a concern at the level and extent of British diplomatic efforts to change the attitude of Opposition political parties in the matter of the implementation of the Extradition (European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism) Act, 1987; and that it is over and above the normal level of such diplomatic activity.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 3 together.
I have made no approaches to either the British Government or the British ambassador about any such matters. It is part of the duties of the Government press secretary to convey from time to time to the press an indication in a general way of any matters which, in his view, might be of concern to a member or members of the Government.
Would the Taoiseach agree that he instructed the press secretary who first did not attribute the instruction to the Taoiseach but did so later having been pressed on the matter, that the Government were dissatisfied with the activities of the British Ambassador and if so, would he not agree that the normal and courteous thing to have done would have been to call in the British ambassador to convey to him directly his displeasure rather than to use the press secretary and the media to convey it?
I do not think there was anything involved which necessitated my calling in the British Ambassador which would amount to a very major matter.
Is the Taoiseach stating that the press secretary was expressing the views of the Taoiseach and those of the Government in what he said?
As a former distinguished political correspondent the Deputy should be aware of the way in which these matters can arise from time to time at political briefings of political correspondents.
Is that a yes or a no?
As a former distinguished political correspondent I understand that the Government press secretary reflects and reports the views of the Taoiseach and the Government. Was he expressing——
We are having repetition.
I did not get an answer, a Cheann Comhairle.
I do not have anything to add to what I said. It is part of the duties of the Government press secretary as the Deputy well knows from her former professional capacity to give the press gallery and the political correspondents a general indication in a general way of any matters which might be of surprise or concern to members of the Government from time to time.
In other words, are you disowning him now?
Can the Taoiseach tell us if the press secretary was relaying the views of the Taoiseach on this occasion?
Again, this is repetition.
That is what Deputy Kennedy asked.
I am asking you again.
Just answer the question.
The question has been asked three times.
Can the Taoiseach tell us if the press secretary was conveying the views of the Taoiseach, in particular, and of the Government?
The Deputy is misquoting the press secretary.
Is it the opinion of the Taoiseach that the British Ambassador, in the last fortnight has been acting above and beyond the normal duties of an accredited diplomat?
I never said anything of the kind.
You got the press secretary to say it.
Is the Taoiseach now dissociating himself from the remarks made by his Government's press secretary and, if so, will the Taoiseach withdraw the remarks made on behalf of the Government?
Rubbish.
Is that reference to the remarks?
May I ask a question a little away from this direction? Would the Taoiseach tell the House——
Order, please.
Do not let the mask slip. It has been kept up very well over the last six months but it is now slipping.
Can we have the question, please.
It will not take much for me to remove it. How do the Government know when the British Ambassador met and when and where? In other words, how did they quantify their judgment as to the level of his activity which in general, as they themselves admitted, was legitimate activity?
I do not think that arises out of the question which is down before me.
Question No. 4.
There are three questions being taken together.
I have allowed a lot of discretion to the Members. I will take a final question from Deputy Barry and then I am going on to the next Question.
Could we know if every ambassador of every friendly nation is to take it that his private meetings be they with politicians or otherwise are constantly being monitored? That is a very substantial question.
The Deputy knows that there is no such monitoring by this Government of any conversations between Members of this House and any member of the diplomatic corps.
How then did the press secretary know who the British Ambassador was seeing?
Deputy Peter Barry has been called.
The press secretary has a line on everyone.
Is Deputy Barry offering?
They were just chancing their arms in order to take the heat off themselves from their own supporters.
That is exactly what it is about. Can the Taoiseach tell us whether following the publicity which was given to this affair last week he or the Minister for Foreign Affairs has seen the British Ambassador?
I have not seen the British Ambassador recently. Perhaps the Minister for Foreign Affairs will indicate if he has met him.
Question No. 4.
Has the Taoiseach——
Deputy Barry, please. If you want to debate this subject you must deal with it in another way.
