John Bruton
Question:2 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will outline his policy on devolution of powers to a local administration in Northern Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Northern Ireland Administration.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to questions in the House on 19 July 1989. I have nothing further to add at this time.
Will the Taoiseach agree that devolution to local administration in Northern Ireland should be based on executive power sharing at Cabinet level as the minimum condition?
I do not want to go into that matter at this time. As the Deputy knows, the Brooke initiative is still under way. It is hoped that, arising out of that initiative, there will be a series of talks between the parties in Northern Ireland, between the parties in the North and the Government here and between the two Governments. The purpose of all these discussions will be to bring forward some new type of arrangement which will be satisfactory all round for Northern Ireland. The question of devolution of powers will certainly, I am sure, be part of those talks, so I do not particularly want to be drawn into giving a view of one kind or another at this stage when such a view might be in conflict with what one or other of the parties will be putting forward in the talks. I would prefer that all these matters be put on the table during the course of these talks.
Without prejudice to what the Taoiseach has said, and not wishing to push him to say anything that would be in any way inappropriate, will he agree, however, that devolution is specifically envisaged in Article 4 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement? Will the Taoiseach agree he should do everything in his power encouraging all those over whom he has any influence, to engage in discussions which would lead to devolution on a power sharing basis?
I am not prepared to go that far at this stage. I dealt at some length on a previous occasion with the whole question of the Anglo-Irish Agreement and the devolution provisions in that Agreement. I do not propose to deal with it any further at this stage because if I were to do so I would, perhaps, be detrimentally pre-empting the sort of talks we all hope will take place.
Will the Taoiseach state then that he has no fundamental objection to devolution as a possible new structure in Northern Ireland?
I have already dealt with that at great length, as I said, and the position as set out in the Anglo-Irish Agreement, to which both Governments have subscribed, is that the British Government's policy, supported by the Irish Government, should be to secure devolution, provided it has cross-community agreement.
Does the Taoiseach want this?
I am at this stage going into these discussions and I want to keep as open a mind as possible.
The Taoiseach acknowledges that devolution is one of the options. Would he care to outline what he thinks the other options are?
No.
Will he agree that the other alternative realistic option is full integration with the UK?
I would not regard that as an alternative option, no.
Will the Taoiseach not agree that it is not a political sin to have an opinion in advance of getting involved in a discussion? Will he agree that today is the first occasion when he has even admitted that devolution might be, and I quote his very words, "drawn into the talks"? Will the Taoiseach not agree that in the absence of any form of locally based administration there are only two other options? One is direct rule from Westminster, which I think he will agree is not an option, and the other is direct rule from Dublin. It is absurd to pretend that somewhere between those is not the kind of system talks would aim at.
I would not agree at all with that analysis.
He would prefer direct rule from London or direct rule from Dublin?
I would not agree with the Deputy's analysis of the only options which are available.
Has he one of his own?
I disagree with the Deputy's suggestion that the limited number of options he has outlined are the only ones available.
Will the Taoiseach not agree——
I want to get on to another question.
——that while there might be a large number of options his difficulty now is he is being so broadminded and it is impossible to see what options he might envisage at all?
That is hardly a question. Question No. 3 please.
He is being opaque as usual.