Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Jul 1991

Vol. 410 No. 2

Written Answers. - Intergovernmental Conference.

Nora Owen

Question:

13 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the Maryfield Secretariat will be re-activated to prepare for the Intergovernmental Conference scheduled for 16 July 1991; and if he will make a statement on the likely effect of the summer recess on the timescale for the different strands on the interparty discussions now under way in Northern Ireland.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

39 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether it is intended that the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference scheduled for 16 July will go ahead in the light of the threat that the holding of the conference may pose to the continuation of the Brooke talks in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 39 together.

The agreed basis on which the round table talks were established, including the position of the Anglo-Irish Secretariat, was set out in the statement by the Secretary of State to the House of Commons on the 26 March. I do not believe it would be helpful to go beyond the terms of that finely balanced statement in any way.

The timetable for the talks is a matter of on-going discussion and it would be premature, therefore, to seek to anticipate any possible future schedule for the talks.

As regards the next meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference, both Governments have made it clear that this will take place, as agreed, on 16 July. As the Deputy is aware, this date was publicly announced following the last meeting of the conference on 26 April. I can see no reason why the holding of this planned Conference should affect the round-table talks process in any way.