Vol. 379 No. 4
asked the Taoiseach if a formal invitation to the leaders of Unionist parties in Northern Ireland to have talks with the Irish Government has been issued following the Taoiseach's recent Ard-Fheis speech; if a response has been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
3.
asked the Taoiseach if he will consider inviting the Unionist leaders in Northern Ireland to make submissions to the Government in advance of the scheduled review of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in November 1988.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
I have made very clear my wish to hear at first hand the views of the representatives of the Unionist tradition on their concerns. That invitation is still on the table and is without precondition.
We were attempting to ask the Taoiseach if he has followed up his invitation in a formal way and if he has got any response.
It would not be entirely helpful or beneficial if I went into that matter at this stage.
Is the Taoiseach hopeful he can have talks with the Unionist community in the foreseeable future?
I and my predecessors had talks with the representatives of the Unionist community and those talks will go on as a matter of routine.
In view of the great need for constitutional politicians to regain the initiative in Northern Ireland and take it away from paramilitary street violence, has the Taoiseach considered inviting the Unionists to make submissions at the time of the review of the Anglo-Irish Agreement given that the Unionist parties have always maintained that they have been excluded from the negotiation of the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
That question has already been asked.
No, I have not considered that.
In order to dispel any suspicion that this is a purely rhetorical invitation, will the Taoiseach indicate the precise organisations representating the Unionist tradition to whom this invitation is addressed?
As Deputies are aware, it was just a general invitation issued by me, perhaps more of an indication of my approach than a specific invitation to a particular individual or organisation. I was anxious to say that I was prepared to listen and to hear Unionist concerns about matters of significance to them.
Will the Taoiseach——
Deputy Tomás Mac Giolla.
Arising from the Taoiseach's reply that he is interested in hearing the views of the Unionist parties, has the Taoiseach any desire to put his views and the views of his Government to the Unionist parties? In view of the fact that the Taoiseach has ruled out devolution as a political initiative, what other political suggestions or initiatives might he put to the Unionist parties?
There are a lot of things bound up in that supplementary. First, the views of this Government are well known. My handiest reference would be to mention the New Ireland Forum report in which there is a very good assessment of the whole situation and a very good outline of the Nationalist position. With regard to specific initiatives, that has to be a question of circumstances and timing.
When does the Taoiseach anticipate that the review of the Anglo-Irish Agreement to be completed by November next might be commenced and who will be involved in that review?
The simple answer is that both Governments would be the primary agencies involved in the review, but I could not at this stage give the Deputy any indication of when that work might be completed or whether in the event either would have to go outside their own ambit to get views.
I asked when that work would commence. Does the Taoiseach not feel that early commencement of it would be beneficial in the light of the problems that now exist?
Yes, I would agree with the Deputy that, whatever about an early commencement, time should be taken to ensure that a full review is undertaken.
Would I be wrong in believing that the Taoiseach had no intention of issuing any invitation in the immediate future to any Unionist organisation and that this meeting would be left solely on the basis of a speech made at a party convention?
I would not regard it as merely a speech. I have followed it up. I see it as a very clear invitation at large to the Unionist community and representatives of that community. I think my issuing the invitation is an important first step and that it is advisable to wait and see what happens.
Would the Taoiseach, if he were in their position, be disposed to taking up an invitation at large rather than by means of a letter of communication addressed to him?
I think the Deputy will realise that these matters have to be handled sensitively and there is a considerable spread of representation of the Unionist community. To follow up the Deputy's suggestion in a specific way might not be the most desirable way to go about it.
Is anything happening——
Ceist 4. I thought I dealt with that.
The Leader of the Official Unionist Party, Mr. Molyneaux, has given a general indication that he would like to talk to Dublin and the Taoiseach's Árd Fheis speech followed this. Has the Taoiseach indicated formally to Mr. Molyneaux that he would like to speak to him?
I do not think it very desirable from my point of view or the present point of view of any particular representative of Unionist tradition and community that we should be discussing the details of the possible contact in this way. It is sufficient for my purpose at any rate at the moment and it is sensible that I have indicated my anxiety to hear views at first hand. Whether I follow that up with any specific indication to an individual or a group, it is better left that way for the moment.
