Proinsias De Rossa
Question:5 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his recent official visit to Czechoslovakia.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Taoiseach's Visit to Czechoslovakia.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:6 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Taoiseach if, during his recent visit to Czecholovakia, he discussed with President Havel procedures for controlling the international arms trade.
Austin Deasy
Question:7 Mr. Deasy asked the Taoiseach if, following his recent State visit to Czechoslovakia, he has any plans to visit other East European countries.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together.
At the invitation of the Czechoslovak Federal Prime Minister, Mr. Marian Calfa, I visited his country on 11 to 13 April, and had discussions with him, as well as with the Prime Ministers of the Czech and Slovak Republics, Mr. Pithart and Mr. Meciar, respectively, the Speaker of the Federal Parliament, Mr. Alexander Dubcek, the Deputy Speaker of the Czech Parliament, Mr. Kasal, and the Speaker of the Slovak Parliament, Mr. Mikloska. The discussions took place at various locations in Prague and Bratislava.
A planned meeting with President Havel had to be cancelled because he, regrettably, was taken ill. I had no wish to impose the strain of even a brief meeting on the President but I took the opportunity of indicating that the Government here would welcome a visit by the President to Ireland at some time in the future, if he should so wish.
While in Prague I was awarded the memorial medal by Charles University at an impressive ceremony in that ancient and hallowed university.
The subjects covered in my discussions with Czechoslovakia's leaders included a review of the political and economic situation in our two countries, developments in the European Community including the negotiations for a new association agreement with Czechoslovakia, developments in Central and Eastern Europe, the CSCE and bilateral relations between Ireland and Czechoslovakia.
At these meetings, I stressed, as appropriate, the commonality of interests between small or medium-sized countries like Czechoslovakia and Ireland and the possibility of greatly enhanced benefits to both our countries from increased exchanges of trade and services — which is now possible following the liberation of Czechoslovakia from over 40 years of oppression and its return to democracy. Prime Minister Calfa and I agreed that, with a view to developing these possibilities further, a special group of officials should meet to draw up proposals for the development of contacts between the two countries, at both official and commercial levels and for positive and specific actions to this end. Even though Ireland has limited resources of material wealth to dispense, we are nevertheless in a position to be of great assistance in dealings with the EC and other international organisations, as well as in the ability to provide expertise in modern administrative training and management services.
I was accompanied on my visit by a delegation representative of a wide range of companies and organisations in both the public and private sectors here, including the Confederation of Irish Industry, Córas Tráchtála, Bord Tele-com, the ESB, Aer Rianta, FÁS, the two main Irish banks and other private interests. The members of the delegation had a series of useful meetings with their opposite numbers in Prague and Bratislava and all reported a high degree of satisfaction with the results.
Since my last meeting with Prime Minister Calfa, there has been a rapid growth in co-operation in a wide range of areas such as assistance in the development of social security and health services, telecommunications, airport management and development of duty-free facilities, and education, where Trinity College has secured a contract under the EC's Tempus Programme to develop postgraduate management courses in Prague. During the course of my visit I was in a position to announce that FÁS will be organising a special course next autumn in each of the two Republics on training for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as our offer of scholarships to 15 students from Czechoslovakia to pursue third-level university and other third-level courses here, starting in October next. At the conclusion of our discussions, Prime Minister Calfa and I signed an agreement on the abolition of visa requirements for travel between our two countries.
In so far as relations with the European Community are concerned, I assured Prime Minister Calfa of Ireland's full support for the early conclusion of the association agreement with Czechoslovakia. I also said we would be as helpful as possible in his country's dealings with the Community. It is, of course, in all our interests, both at bilateral level and in the wider EC framework, that Czechoslovakia succeeds in its efforts to return to the market economy, given that country's position and pivotal role in Central and Eastern Europe.
In conclusion, I should like to place on record in the House my warm apreciation of the courtesy and efficiency of our hosts in Prague and Bratislava, and my grateful memories of the gracious hospitality with which we were met in a country with a magnificent past and which now, with its liberation, has the possibility of returning to its former position among the leading countries of the world.
Concerning plans to visit other east European countries, any such plans would be announced shortly in advance of the event, in accordance with the established practice in this regard.
I will call the Deputies in the order in which their questions appear before me on the Order Paper.
I thank the Taoiseach for the detail of his reply. Clearly, the visit was fruitful. Did the group of Ministers to whom he referred meet yet? What arrangements have been put in place for this group to meet in order to further relations between Ireland and Czechoslovakia? Would the Taoiseach indicate whether detailed discussions took place on the CSCE given that Ireland's position on the CSCE seems to be close to the position of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republics?
First, let me say it is a group of officials who are meeting——
I thought the Ministers were meeting.
The Ambassador and a few key officials are meeting with the Czechoslovak side to agree a more permanent structure, a committee or group, which will have the responsibility of fostering relationships and an increased number of exchanges between the two countries. A working group are now engaged in the task of working out with our Czechoslovak friends a more permanent structure. They are meeting and, hopefully, they will soon bring forward suggestions for a permanent structure which I would visualise including representatives of the official, semi-State and private sectors on both sides.
Certainly we talked about the CSCE; Prague will, of course, be the headquarters of the CSCE. The Czechoslovaks are very interested in the whole CSCE process and are firmly committed to it, as we are also.
The Taoiseach did not meet President Havel. In that event did he discuss with the Prime Minister the question of their ceasing to trade in arms? Did he take the opportunity to compliment the Czech and Slovak Republics on that decision in view of the economic difficulties that have arisen from their decision to cease trading in arms, particularly to the Middle East? If the opportunity arose within the EC of conveying similar sentiments on the supply of arms to the Middle East would he go down that road, particularly with regard to France?
It is not possible to be in Czechoslovakia, particularly Slovakia, for very long without being very much aware of the whole situation with regard to the armaments industry. Bratislava was identified by the Communist bloc as the supplier of armaments to the Soviet and Eastern Bloc. They had a massive arms industry there which they have now abandoned. I agree with the Deputy that it is a very noble action on their part to give up the manufacture of armaments. To a large extent, of course, the Soviet Union is no longer a customer, and neither are any of the other countries, for these products, but it is causing them very serious problems. Naturally, the armaments industry was a huge employer in Bratislava and they are now facing enormous employment and economic problems as a result of this and they are desperately seeking ways of introducing new types of industry and employment.
Mrs. Taylor-Quinn rose.
I am calling Deputy Deasy, whose Question No. 7 refers.
Did the Taoiseach ask the Prime Minister about the continuing manufacture and export of Semtex and its sale to the Libyans and hence the IRA? In the course of his reply the Taoiseach told us about his discussions on opportunities for Czechoslovakia to trade with the EC. Did the Taoiseach discuss specifically whether agricultural products, particularly beef, would gain access to the EC and did he make any promise that he would assist Czechoslovakian products coming into the EC?
We discussed the question of Semtex but I think that question is now under control.
Frequently I discussed with my counterparts there the question of the new type of association agreement with the EC. As the Deputy knows there is a trade agreement in operation at present and it is now hoped to substitute it with what is now known as a third generation association agreement which is, of course, being negotiated at present. The negotiations for that association agreement are, of course, conducted on behalf of the Community by the Commission and I would have no role in any aspect of those negotiations. However, I did say to the Czechoslovakians that I was in favour and would help and support the idea of their getting an association agreement negotiated and implemented as quickly as possible. Quite frankly, without an association agreement I do not think they have much future or have any real possibility of solving their many economic and social problems. I did take it on myself to suggest to them, with regard to the difficulties that are arising in negotiating that association agreement, that a good agreement now would be much better than a perfect agreement later. In addition, I suggested they should put all their efforts into getting an association-type agreement in place even though it might not fully meet all their present requirements. Of course Czechoslovakia is one of the few countries in Eastern Europe, fortunately, which is self-sufficient in food. It is a strange paradox but the co-operative farming system actually appears to have worked well in Czechoslovakia so that they do not have any problems supplying themselves with food. But the question of access of agricultural products by Czechoslovakia to the Community is a matter for very difficult negotiations and one which is within the province of the Commission, not with me.
Was beef mentioned?
No.
Does the Taoiseach view what occurred in Czechoslovakia in relation to the non-sale of arms as an example for members of the EC to follow in relation to the supply of arms to the Middle East, in particular by France? Will he be raising that matter at an EC meeting or directly with France?
I do not see why the Deputy should single out one member state. The regrettable fact is that the five members of the Security Council are all in the business of supplying arms to the Middle East and the Gulf area. This matter was discussed at our last summit meeting in Luxembourg when decisions were taken in regard to the whole question of the supply of armaments. It was felt that must increasingly become a matter for discussion and decision by the Community.