Vol. 396 No. 7
1 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) concerning proposals first submitted by the Official Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party to the Northern Ireland Secretary two years ago, as a possible alternative to the Anglo-Irish Agreement; if he was aware of these proposals; if he has made or intends to make any response to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have seen the report referred to by the Deputy.
As I said in my statement of 22 January I would welcome hearing Unionist concerns at first hand and would place no restrictions on the agenda for such a meeting, which could of course take place without preconditions and without prejudice to the Unionist position on the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
Would the Taoiseach consider that a statement indicating his attitude to the proposals in the document referred to could help towards the coming together of politicians to discuss the future of Northern Ireland, particularly in the light of the Taoiseach's statement in response to Mr. Nicholson and Mr. Allen that he would be willing to consider an alternative to the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
I do not think that would be the way to proceed. The right way to proceed is by dialogue and discussion. In any sort of negotiations if one party put forward a document I do not think it could be expected that the other party would comment on that document without prior discussion and dialogue.
I view of the reference to Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution as being offensive because they are regarded as a specific claim on the territory of Northern Ireland by the State and the subsequent court case which came to the same conclusion, would the Taoiseach be prepared to make a comment on that matter as it would seem to be a significant stumbling block to the kind of discussions he is talking about?
The Deputy is bringing in new matter.
I do not think it is helpful to go into details of this kind across the floor of the House.
I do not accept the Taoiseach's view.
A question, please, Deputy.
The fact is that some movement must be made. If it depends on a movement being made on this side of the Border——
The Deputy is proceeding to make a statement.
——that approach should be adopted.
The Deputy should let the Unionists speak for themselves. I do not think they would be particularly enamoured of the idea of the Deputy acting as some sort of an intermediary on their behalf. I have invited them without any conditions to come and talk to me. That is a very frank and open position for me to adopt.
I am acting on behalf of myself and The Workers' Party. I am not an intermediary for anybody. I put it to the Taoiseach that the question of movement taking place in Northern Ireland obviously requires an approach by the Taoiseach, the Prime Minister in Britain and the politicians in Northern Ireland. It seems that an opportunity has been presented to the Taoiseach and——
I have given the Deputy a lot of latitude. He seems to be making an issue of the matter by way of debate.
I am not making an issue; I am simply looking for a response from the Taoiseach which would give some hope of movement taking place in Northern Ireland.
I am proceeding to the next question.
