Vol. 396 No. 6
1 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to reports that Nelson Mandela is to visit a number of European countries over the coming months; if, in light of this, he will consider inviting Mr. Mandela to visit Ireland during his trip to Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
On behalf of the Government, I have invited Mr. Mandela, in a letter of 21 February, to visit Ireland as soon as it is convenient for him to do so. Since then, in the course of a message I sent on the occasion of Mr. Mandela's meeting with the frontline States and other countries in Lusaka on 28 February, at which the Minister for Foreign Affairs represented me, I expressed the wish that Mr. Mandela might be able to accept the invitation.
The Minister raised the question with Mr. Mandela when they met in Lusaka. Mr. Mandela indicated that he hopes that the travel programme which is being prepared for him will enable him to come to Ireland very soon as he wants to accept the invitation and to receive the freedom of the City of Dublin.
Is the Taoiseach aware that it has been reported that Mr. Mandela is expected to be in Britain around Easter time? Has he made any contacts either with Mr. Mandela or the ANC to find out if he could tie in a visit to Ireland around that time as well? Does the Taoiseach propose to offer Mr. Mandela the privilege of addressing a joint meeting of the Houses of the Oireachtas on the occasion of his visit?
We are keeping in close touch with Mr. Mandela's programme. The situation is as I have outlined it. He hopes to arrange a visit here as soon as possible. The Deputy will understand he is very busily engaged on a number of fronts. Deputy Spring has already been in touch with me about addressing both Houses and I have indicated to him that that would really be a matter for the House to consider in due course. So far that invitation has only been extended to Heads of State or Government. I will keep in touch with the House on the matter as the situation develops.
