asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the results of the renewal of the working of the Anglo-Irish Agreement will be put before Dáil Éireann now that the period stipulated in column 1177 of the Dáil debate of 13 December 1988 is approaching.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Review of Working of Anglo-Irish Conference.
5.
I would remind the Deputy that the review provided for in Article 11 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement is a review of the working of the Conference and not a renewal of the working of the Agreement. The Deputy will be aware that the Agreement itself does not specify any definite period for completion of the review. The period mentioned during Question Time on 13 December 1988, to which he refers, was intended to be of an indicative nature only.
At the meeting of the Inter-Governmental Conference on 8 February we had an extensive exchange of views on work in progress at official level on the review and we gave directions on the early completion of this work. I would anticipate finalisation of the review in approximately two months' time. However, it is not possible to forecast a precise date at this stage. When work on the review has been completed, I shall certainly ensure that the Dáil is fully informed of the results.
I apologise for the misprint in the question; it is probably due to my handwriting. Similarly, in Question No. 45 there is also a misprint, again no doubt due to my handwriting. Does the Minister not agree that he said on 13 December in this House that the review of the workings of the Agreement would be completed by end February or early March, two months from that time? He is now saying on 21 February that it will take another two months. Is that correct?
That is the way it has gone, I am not going to deny I said that. I gave it as an indicative date. To use my own phraseology, the kind of deadline we had in mind was 1 March. I agree the completion date will be a little later — two months later.
All we are doing is reviewing the workings of the Agreement; the whole Agreement is not being reviewed. I am a little concerned that the Minister and his co-chairman of the Anglo-Irish Conference are taking so long with what I think is quite minor work, unless there is an enormous number of submissions.
Firstly. there are a substantial number of submissions. Secondly, we devoted a considerable amount of time of the recent Conference to a discussion of this matter. Thirdly, we parted from the meeting on the basis that a firm decision was taken to devise the drafting so we will have a first draft at the next meeting. Lastly, and this is very important, the door is still open for further representations on the part of very responsible groups within the island as a whole. We are giving time to them and we understand there will be submissions from them currently or in the next few weeks.
No. 6 in the name of the same Deputy.
Could I just ask one supplementary?
A brief question. We are running our of time for priority questions.
I understand that, A Cheann Comhairle, and I apologise.
If the Deputy wants his Question No. 6 to be dealt with he will help me I am sure.
Does the Minister not agree that he is embarking on a dangerous course if he thinks that by not concluding the review of the workings of the Agreement he is going to entice the Unionist parties to the table, especially as we are coming up to a very sensitive period in the North of Ireland with the forthcoming elections?
We cannot leave it over until after the elections.
It should have been completed before now.
It is now with the drafts-people of the two sovereign Governments concerned.
These are very high ranking people who have staff available to them.
It is important to emphasise why it will only be a draft at the next meeting. This is also a matter of important politics and there must be a political as well as an administration input. I am concerned that the way be cleared before the next meeting to examine the final draft, to have a further look at it from the political point of view and consider the position in regard to establishing structures in the future that will improve matters on a continuing and substantial basis within the two parts of Ireland.
I must call the next Question, No. 6.
If my suspicions are correct, the Minister is taking a very dangerous course.
I appreciate Deputy Barry's genuineness in this matter but I do not agree with him. We are going about it in a step by step approach.