I have received Private Notice Questions from Deputies John Bruton, Proinsias De Rossa, Tomás Mac Giolla and Dick Spring. I will be calling the Deputies in the order in which they submitted their questions to my office.
Private Notice Questions: - Northern Ireland Talks.
asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the apparent collapse of the Brooke talks.
asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the Government's response to the announcement made this morning by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that the current talks were ending; if he intends to meet the British Prime Minister or to take any other steps to reopen this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the breakdown of the inter-party talks on Northern Ireland.
asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the breakdown of the inter-party talks on Northern Ireland.
I propose to take the four Private Notice Questions together. The Government regret that it has not proved possible to continue the roundtable talks process at this time. The dialogue which has begun is potentially of great importance to all the people of this island and there is a shared interest in bringing the process forward to fruition. It is crucial that the commitment on the part of all participants, which has brought the process to this stage, should be sustained.
The common objective of bringing peace and prosperity to this island transcends any differences in approach among the participants in these talks. The vast majority of people of both traditions profoundly desire that the process begun in recent weeks should continue. They want their political leaders to show the maturity and self-confidence that could lead to a transformation of relationship on this island.
Consistent with our commitment to the Anglo-Irish Agreement, unless and until it is agreed that it be succeeded by new and better arrangements, we have shown our willingness to be flexible in constructing a process which would take account of the sensitivities of all participants. I would like to take this opportunity of underlining our continued flexibility in this regard.
The present opportunity for progress has not easily come about and cannot lightly be allowed go by. The Government hope that a discussion on how best to move matters forward will get under way in a positive and constructive spirit in the shortest possible time. We will work closely with the British Government and the parties involved to this end.
Does the Taoiseach not consider it to be particularly regrettable that the discussions have broken down just before the beginning of what is colloquially known as the marching season, when there is the risk that historical passions will be rekindled and entrenched positions resumed? Would the Taoiseach agree that in the past week a significant measure of progress had begun to be made? Could the Taoiseach indicate what strategy he now intends to follow on behalf of the Irish Government to encourage the parties concerned towards either a resumption of the existing talks process, the beginning of a fresh set of discussions or a picking up of the threads of the existing discussions, or whatever phrase may be used to facilitate the resumption of what appeared to be a very hopeful process of talks relating to an environment in which so much suffering has been caused and will continue to be caused so long as politicians are unable to talk together constructively?
It is mistaken to use words such as "breakdown", "collapse" and so on. I do not think we should see it that way. I do not think that Secretary of State Brooke sees it that way. I would like to see it rather as a situation where the talk process has been concluded for the time being. It was always understood that the gap would end on 16 July. That is simply all that is happening. I do not think it would be very helpful for me to spell out anything in detail at this stage, but I assure the Deputy that the Government will be guided by two principles: first, a determination to be flexible in any arrangement that might be proposed and, secondly, to continue to reiterate our commitment to the process. On that basis, we will work closely, co-operatively and in a generous spirit with the British Government and the parties involved to have the process brought to a successful conclusion.
Deputy Mac Giolla.
Sir, if I could——
The Deputy will appreciate that the House will have two rounds of questions and then maybe a final round, when the Deputy may ask another question.
So I could have five or six Deputies asking questions if my party put down the question, too?
No. I assure the House that there has been a misunderstanding in respect of Deputy Quinn. There is only one question in the name of the leader of the Labour Party. I call on Deputy Mac Giolla.
On a point of order, Sir, there is one question. Notice was given to the office that Deputy Quinn's question was withdrawn.
I am sure the Taoiseach will agree that all Deputies have been most restrained in the past 12 months or more in this regard in order to leave open every opportunity for success in the talks.
I now ask the Taoiseach whether he intends to make time available for a debate on the issues involved or, alternatively, whether he will brief Opposition parties on the position to date. It is time that Deputies knew precisely what was happening and where the difficulties are arising. The Taoiseach himself has said that the people in Northern Ireland want a solution to be found and want the political leaders to arrive at a successful conclusion to the talks. I ask the Taoiseach to let us know what are the main obstacles, whether it is possible that the political leaders themselves are an obstacle in the way of the talks and whether new leadership would be a good thing. Perhaps the Taoiseach would give a lead in that matter himself. Is it intended to provide to Opposition parties time for a discussion on this issue or to provide a briefing as regards the main obstacles in the way of the talks?
I am not too sure whether I took the implication of the Deputy's concluding remarks correctly. If I did, I do not intend to reply to him.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I have asked a specific question of the Taoiseach about the giving of information to the House in relation to the main obstacles in the way of the talks, either on the basis of briefings to the party leaders or on the basis of a discussion in the House. I want the Taoiseach to say whether he intends to give that information.
There is hardly a Deputy in the House who would not be fully aware of every aspect of the way in which the talks have proceeded and of all the different viewpoints advanced and the obstacles and difficulties that have arisen. The have all been very much in the public arena.
I share the regret expresed by the Taoiseach for the position at which the talks have arrived. I feel that the Government have been particularly flexible in the past 18 months in their approach to the talks. Regardless of whether we use the word "breakdown" or any other such phrase, the talks seem to have arrived at an impasse, to say the least. Is the Taoiseach prepared to inform the House of the steps the Government are now going to pursue to break the deadlock? Is it now not possible to look towards a resumption of the talks until the autumn? If the Taoiseach feels that because of the sensitivity, which we all in the House share, in relation to the extremely difficult situation in Northern Ireland, the matter cannot be discussed openly on the floor of the House, will he give a briefing to the leaders of the Opposition parties in the House before the summer recess so that we can share with him the difficulties and complexities of ensuring that the talks are resumed and reach a fruitful conclusion? In particular, I should like the Taoiseach to confirm whether the Government intend at this stage to take specific steps towards a resumption of the talks and whether it will be the autumn at the earliest before the talks can be resumed.
I cannot give the Deputy any specific information as to when the talks might resume. The Deputy would have heard me say that so far as this Government are concerned, we do not foresee any difficulty in the resumption of the talks immediately after 16 July, but I do not want to pre-empt anything in that regard.
In relation to what this Government would do, I assure the Deputy and the House that the Government will stay in the closest possible contact with the situation. We will avail of any avenue open to us to try to ensure that the talks are resumed and we will be as flexible as possible in our approach to that. The Government will also be as flexible as possible in our approach to any ideas or suggestions for a possible new process to be undertaken. I cannot say any more than that at this stage.
Can the Taoiseach say whether, for the time being, to use his words — he has given no indication as to the probable length of the gap, delay or hiatus, for understandable reasons — there will be a process of discussion involving the parties in Northern Ireland, even with a view to avoiding their making comments publicly that might make it more difficult for the discussions to be resumed? Given that this process has now come to the end of this phase, do the Government intend to initiate any examination of their own accord and for its own merits of any obstacles that might exists in our Constitution or laws which may make it harder for discussions to be brought to a successful conclusion ultimately?
Again it is important that none of us involved — this Government, the British Government or the parties — should pre-empt anything. I believe that the best contribution we can all make is to indicate our willingness to get something started up again. I would hope that I am not mistaken in reading the approach of all the parties to this interlude in the process as being fairly clearly determined not to injure the prospect of them starting up again. I do not want to try to speak for anyone else in the process, but I think I would be right in reading the situation that way. All the parties concerned seem to be anxious, in the circumstances of the talks concluding for the present, not to pre-empt the situation any further.
The Chair now has some difficulty. While this is a matter of extreme importance, nevertheless we are ruled by the rules that govern questions. We cannot have a debate. I propose that we have a final round of questions and I am calling Deputy Mac Giolla. I want to explain to Deputy Bruton that Question Time does not provide for the size of parties. It provides for the right of a Deputy to table questions. Otherwise we would have to change it. The Chair only interprets what is there in the best interests of the House. That is the rule. There is no provision that anybody be different from anybody else in the number of questions that may be presented.
I want to respond to the last point made by the Taoiseach. I want to assure him and everybody else that it is our intention, and I am sure it is everybody's intention, to show the same restraint as we have done over the past 12 months. It is for that reason that I have asked if it is possible to have a briefing from the Taoiseach over the next few weeks so that we could gain an idea of the precise difficulties. Everybody knows about, and the media have indicated, various obstacles but I think it would be important that people be briefed. Otherwise during the course of the summer various statements will be made which might create difficulty.
I have no particular objection to briefing party leaders on any matter of national interest or, in this case, a matter that concerns the best interests of all the people of this island. If it seems to me at any stage that there is some aspect of the talks which is not in the public arena and which should properly be brought to the attention of the leaders of the Opposition I will certainly do that. However, I cannot think of anything at the moment. As far as I can see, every aspect of the talks is not alone in the public arena but analysed and dissected by commentators on all sides.
I am sure we all share the view that restraint is the order of the day in relation to these matters. However, I am sure the Taoiseach is aware that the Democratic Unionist Party, in a statement issued this morning, blamed London and Dublin for the collapse of the talks. They said that the Irish Republic has sabotaged the process. I would like the Taoiseach to make a comment on that statement, of which I am sure he is aware, from Mr. Paisley's party. As I said already, I feel very strongly that flexibility has been shown by the Government on all occasions when called for. These processes are taking place in the context of an international agreement signed between the British and Irish Governments in 1985 and it has been made clear from the outset that until that agreement is replaced it will stay in situ. However, I would like a comment from the Taoiseach in relation to that statement because I feel it should not go unanswered.
I would prefer not to say anything about it but as the Deputy asked me that question I would have to say that I cannot do otherwise than completely reject any such suggestion. I am grateful to the Deputy for his statement to the effect that this Government have been flexible because that is true. I think we can claim quite justifiably, and the record will show in history, that the talks would never have got to the stage they had if it had not been for great flexibility and continuing compromise on our part. That is not to take all the credit for that to ourselves. We got to a certain stage because of long, careful, protracted discussions and negotiation and indeed a co-operative approach by all the parties concerned. We could not have got there unless that was present. Certainly the commitment of this Government and the British Government to the process is complete and absolute.
We are determined still to do everything we can to make sure that the process is continued and there is no question whatever of our being in any way responsible for any interruption to the process. Far from it. We have no interest and could not have any interest in that. We are determined that the process should continue and in so far as any obstacles exist on our side, we are determined to remove them or to find some way around them.
The Chair will take a final short question from Deputy Bruton.
Would the Taoiseach agree that it is in nobody's interests either to respond to any points of an acrimonious nature that may be made by the parties in Northern Ireland or to engage in any discussion with them which could become acrimonious; and that silence is probably the best approach in the face of any attempts to attribute blame on the part of people on the other side of the Border? Would the Taoiseach indicate further what use the Irish Government propose to make of the time that is now available to them as a result of this pause to re-examine any positions we may have as a State which could be in any sense even a minor obstacle to progress?
We will certainly continue to keep in close touch with the situation as it evolves and the extent that it does evolve during the summer recess. We will, of course, continue our consideration of all aspects of it. There is no doubt that substantial progress has been made so far in the inter-party talks that have taken place. Naturally we will study all aspects of what has been said there and to what extent areas of agreement have been able to be identified. We will also consider our own position to see in what way we can possibly contribute further to success.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the Ceann Comhairle always lets me in.
Deputy Currie will appreciate that questions have to be confined to the Leaders of the parties. If the Chair were to depart from that there are other Members of other parties who would claim that they should have the same privilege as Deputy Currie might feel he has. Let us move on to the next business.