Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Oct 1990

Vol. 402 No. 3

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Affairs.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

29 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the Government's position on the current impasse in efforts to initiate talks between the democratic political parties in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Alan M. Dukes

Question:

30 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom are in agreement regarding the involvement of the Irish Government in the process of talks currently being explored by the UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together.

The Government have made clear that, while continuing to work the Anglo-Irish Agreement fully, we would be prepared to contemplate, in agreement with the British Government, a new and better structure, agreement or arrangement to transcend the existing one. Clearly, the Government, as a co-signatory of the Agreement, must of necessity be directly involved in discussions about any new arrangement to transcend it. This is of course fully accepted by the British Government.

As Deputies are aware, I am involved in ongoing discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland about the prospects for political progress. From the outset, the Government have sought to enhance these prospects; at all times we have taken an extremely constructive approach to the process and have shown an anxiety and determination to assist it in every way possible.

At the Inter-Governmental Conference on 25 October the Secretary of State and I exchanged ideas and agreed to give further urgent consideration to finding a basis for talks acceptable to all parties.