Vol. 399 No. 12
9 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the lack of relevant information on Cambodia and the widespread Khmher Rouge and superpower propaganda, he will consider sending a fact finding mission to Cambodia to witness the situation at first hand.
I refer the Deputy to the statements by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to Dáil Éireann on 14 November, 7 February and 9 May in which he comprehensively set out the Government's policy on Cambodia.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs has continued to keep in close touch with developments in Cambodia. Regularly reports on the situation are received from various sources including our partners in the Twelve, the United Nations, nongovernmental organisations and other foreign ministries. It is considered that the information available on Cambodia is adequate for the purpose of formulating Irish policy on the issues involved and that therefore a fact-finding mission would not be justified at this time.
We are very pleased with the change in Government policy in regard to Cambodia and the seating arrangements at the UN. I should like to pay tribute to the Government for making those changes. Is the Taoiseach aware that in the Dáil on 9 May at Question Time I suggested to the Minister for Foreign Affairs that he consider sending a representative to Cambodia and that he was kind enough to reply that he would give every consideration to what I said? Will the Taoiseach say if consideration was given to that suggestion and is he aware that the UK Government have sent a diplomat to Cambodia and that the French Government set up a cultural mission headed by a diplomat in Phnom Penh? Will the Taoiseach accept that we should follow this example by sending somebody to Phnom Penh and Cambodia to report back?
If the Minister for Foreign Affairs thought that at any given moment it would be useful to send a deputation I am sure he would do so. However, as the Deputy is aware, in this sort of situation where there are at least two rival parties seeking to represent Cambodia, the sending of a fact-finding mission would be attended with a lot of difficulties and complications. I would not rule that out. The Minister for Foreign Affairs assures me that he is very well informed from the different sources. The members states of the Twelve have their own sources there and the United Nations have. I have had discussions on Cambodia with the Australian special representative, appointed by Prime Minister Hawke. We have fairly good insights into what is taking place there, not that that improves things very much because the situation is extraordinarily complex.
There is nothing like hearing and seeing things for oneself.
Will the Minister consider discussing with the Secretary General of the UN whether he considers there is any further role we could pay, either through the Government or the EC Presidency, to help bring about some movement there so that a fair and free election can be held and a government elected in Cambodia?
We can do that but, as the Deputy probably knows, the centre of activity has moved to the other part of the world with the Australians playing a leading role in trying to do something.
The moral authority of the UN is still very important.
