asked the Taoiseach when he will have a full meeting with the British Prime Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meeting with British Prime Minister.
1.
The Deputy will be aware that my most recent meeting with the British Prime Minister took place on 26 June when we were both attending the European Council in Madrid.
Plans for meetings that might be arranged with the Prime Minister, other than at European Councils, would be announced, in accordance with established practice, simultaneously in Dublin and London close to the time of the meeting.
I am anxious to ascertain from the Taoiseach whether there is any intention to have a full meeting with the British Prime Minister — I am not referring to these ten minute jobs on the margin of the European Council. My recollection is that the present Taoiseach has not had such a meeting with the UK Prime Minister in either London or Dublin since 1982. Does this indicate that he has decided to let the standard practice established by his predecessor fall into disuse?
As I explained when this question was last put to me in April in the last Dáil, if such a meeting would appear at any time to be necessary or beneficial, it can of course be held. I would like to assure the Deputy that the six monthly meetings which take place between the British Prime Minister and myself at European Council meetings are quite valuable and afford us an opportunity to exchange views on current issues.
Prior to the Taoiseach taking office early in 1987 there was a standard arrangement whereby his predecessor and the UK Prime Minister met regularly either in London or Dublin. It was my understanding that it was the intention of the present Taoiseach to continue that arrangement but that has not been done. I would like to know why it has not been done, whether there is any intention to re-establish that arrangement and, if not, is it because the Taoiseach has nothing to say in relation to Anglo-Irish affairs or the problems in Northern Ireland? Is he putting the relationship between the UK and Ireland, in particular in so far as it affects Northern Ireland, into a deep freeze?
There is no particular arrangement that has been set aside or that is not being adhered to. The Deputy will appreciate that with regard to Anglo-Irish relations in general and Northern Ireland matters in particular, there is now a regular routine of inter-governmental conference meetings at which these matters are dealt with on an on-going basis as they arise.
The Taoiseach has said that he would hold such a meeting if he felt it were either necessary or beneficial. I understand from that that it is the Taoiseach's view at the moment that such a meeting would be neither necessary nor beneficial. If that is the case, why is he of that view? Why would it not be beneficial or necessary to meet Mrs. Thatcher at this point?
The Deputy knows as well as I do that having meetings just for the sake of it can be unhelpful. Meetings of that kind, if they are scheduled and stated to be of a major nature, would arouse expectations and perhaps subsequently disappointment. Unless there was a specific reason for a major meeting, I do not think there is any pressure for holding such a meeting. As I said, the six monthly meetings afford us an opportunity of dealing with anything of importance that arises. Certainly if there was a need for a major meeting it would arise during the course of those Council meetings. Many of the matters that might normally have been dealt with in previous years at meetings between Prime Ministers are now the subject of these on-going discussions within the context of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
Deputy J. Bruton rose.
I want to make progress on other questions. A final question, Deputy John Bruton.
Would the Taoiseach consider it indicative of the maturity that has now been reached in Anglo-Irish relations if there was to be a formal visit to this country by the British Prime Minister similar to the visits to this country by political heads from the United States, France, Australia and other coutries with whom we conduct equivalent relations or is there a particular problem with an invitation to Britain?
I do not think there is a particular problem. The matter just has never arisen.
In 60 years.
Of course, the British Prime Minister will be here for the European Council meeting which will be held during our Presidency next year.