asked the Taoiseach if he is in favour of having talks with Sinn Féin leaders.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Talks with Sinn Féin.
2.
The only circumstances in which talks with Sinn Féin could be contemplated by an Irish Government would be if they rejected violence and accepted that constitutional politics are the only legitimate way to achieve economic, social and political objectives.
I am sorry I did not hear the beginning of that reply.
The only circumstances in which talks with Sinn Féin could be contemplated by an Irish Government would be if they rejected violence and accepted that constitutional politics are the only legitimate way to achieve economic, social and political objectives.
My question is prompted by a report which was attributed to the Taoiseach in America in which he said he welcomed the talks between the SDLP and Sinn Féin. As Sinn Féin are a Thirty-two county party I was wondering if he would extend his viewpoint by initiating discussions with Sinn Féin in an effort to persuade them to do exactly what he has said in his reply and, that is, to discontinue violence. Would the Taoiseach consider it in that light? Is it true that the Taoiseach welcomed the talks between the SDLP and Sinn Féin?
No. I do not know to what the Deputy is referring. I do not know if I ever used those words. What I have said about the talks between the SDLP and Sinn Féin is that I accept John Hume's judgement and assessment of that situation and if he believes that something worthwhile or beneficial particularly from the point of view of the cessation of violence can be achieved, I would be prepared to accept his judgement in the matter. That is as far as I have ever gone on that issue. The Deputy would have to understand that there would be a very great difference between John Hume as the leader of a political party in Northern Ireland having conversations and the Irish Government, as a sovereign Government, having the same type of conversations. There is an enormous difference between those two processes.
Would the Taoiseach exclude any consideration of having talks with Sinn Féin until they repudiate violence completely?
Of course.
The offer made to the Unionists in conjunction with the talks which have taken place between the SDLP and Sinn Féin seem to indicate that there is a contradiction or a certain void where the supporters of the political organisation of Sinn Féin are concerned.
I will have to advert to a very clear distinction and that is that my invitation or, indeed, the invitation of any of the major parties in the Republic, to a representative Unionist tradition would be to representatives of constitutional political Unionist parties.