I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together.
The President of South Africa, Mr. F.W. De Klerk, accompanied by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Leon Wessels, paid a one-day working visit to Ireland on Thursday last and had discussions with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and me. Our discussions continued over a working lunch.
The talks covered political and economic developments in South Africa and included the issues of political prisoners and exiles and of violence in the townships and elsewhere, as well as South Africa's position in southern Africa generally and its relations with Ireland and the European Community. I greatly welcomed the opportunity which the visit provided to exchange views with President De Klerk and to receive from him a detailed outline of his programme for the establishment of a pluralist democracy in South Africa and the problems and difficulties in the way.
The President outlined in great detail his plans and the irreversible process under way to bring apartheid to an end. I emphasised to him the Irish Government's long-standing opposition to the system and our firm wish to see it abolished at the earliest possible date.
The visit of President De Klerk provided an important opportunity to indicate the Government's firm support and encouragement for the reforms being pressed forward by him and our desire that the process would continue with all possible speed. The visit also enabled me to express our expectation that, as the reforms continued, they would influence relations between South Africa and the international community, including Ireland.