Deputy McGahon has given me notice of his intention to raise the matter of the endorsement of support for the candidature of a person, details supplied, in the British election by the chairman of Bord na Gaeilge. Before the Deputy proceeds may I make a brief point? As this matter is concerned with individuals who are identifiable I ask the Deputy or Deputies concerned to exercise the utmost restraint in their contribution. It is a long-standing rule of this House that charges of a personal nature should not be made in this privileged Assembly against persons outside the House who have no means of redress open to them. On that basis I will hear the Deputy.
Adjournment Debate. - Bord na Gaeilge Chairman's Statement.
I thank you for giving me the opportunity to raise this issue and while I will have to be mindful of your warning I should say, with the greatest of respect, that I will be unable to promote my case if I cannot refer to the person concerned. Perhaps you will help me as I go along.
I wish to express my utter disgust — I believe I am speaking for thousands of other Irish people — at the outrageous and scandalous public endorsement of support for Gerry Adams in the British election by the chairman of Bord na Gaeilge, Mr. Proinsias Mac Aonghusa. For the past 23 years we have witnessed a horrific slaughter in the Six Counties. While the awful problems which beset Beirut have now faded from world headlines the problems associated with Belfast, that tragic part of our island, continue. The chronicle of deaths makes tragic reading. Almost 4,000 people have been butchered in horrific circumstances by paramilitaries on both sides in Northern Ireland.
It is beyond belief that a responsible journalist of the calibre of Mr. Mac Aonghusa who is the chairman of an Irish State board, would publicly call for support for an international terrorist like Gerry Adams. I can only believe that this was an aberration on his part, particularly when there is a man of the calibre of Dr. Joe Hendron, who is a man of great integrity and courage, available to the Catholic voters of West Belfast. I very much hope that Dr. Hendron will be successful in the forthcoming election. Rightly or wrongly, Unionists believe that people in the Irish language movement in the North have links with the Provos. This endorsement confirms that view and will harden Unionist resistance to all things Irish. I think, therefore, that Mr. Mac Aonghusa has delivered a body blow to the Irish language movement which he purports to serve.
In using the phrase "British imperialism", Mr. Mac Aonghusa has shown that he lives in a time warp. This phrase is redolent of Provo talk and is much used by them. While it might have been apt and true in other years the era of British imperialism all over the world is now dead, and thankfully so. Mr. Mac Aonghusa in his other manifestation as Gulliver often refers to the phrase used by my colourful and courageous predecessor, Mr. Paddy Donegan. I would like to append that phrase, "a thundering disgrace", to Mr. Mac Aonghusa. He is a thundering disgrace to the profession he serves, the profession of journalism, and to the Irish nation. I ask the Minister to call Mr. Mac Aonghusa in and ask him for a rational explanation as to why he delivered this body blow to the Irish nation and, if he fails to give an acceptable explanation, to remove him from his position. I also call on the Minister to do his bit to support constitutional politics in the North and to support the SDLP in their efforts to bring constitutional politics to that tragic part of the country.
Is breá liom go bhfuil an deis seo agam chun a chur ar thaifead na Dála go bhfuil an rialtas chomh díomách agus atá an Teachta maidir leis an méid a bhí le rá ag Cathaoirleach Bhord na Gaeilge san alt a scríobh sé sa nuachtán Anois.
Ba chóir a thuiscint gur scríobh sé an t-alt seo mar iriseoir neamhspleách agus nach bhfuil aon cheangal idir an méid a bhí le rá aige sa chomhthéacs sin agus a dhualgais mar Chathaoirleach ar Bhord na Gaeilge. Glacaim leis, ar ndóigh, go bhfuil sé deacair do dhaoine uaireanta an t-idirdhealú seo a dhéanamh idir imeachtaí dhaoine ina ndualgais phoiblí agus rudaí a dhéanann siad ina gcáil príobháideach nó proifisiúnta.
Is díreach de bharr na ndeacrachtaí seo go mba chóir do dhuine a bhfuil íomhá phoiblí aige, mar shampla, mar chathaoirleach ar bhord Stáit, bheith anchúramach faoi aon ghníomh a dhéanamh sé ina gcáil féin lena chinntiú nach dtarraingítear a phost poiblí isteach i gcúrsaí conspóideacha, agus ní hé seo an chéad uair a bhí orm a léiriú don Teach seo nach raibh aon fhreagracht ar an Rialtas as rudaí a déarfadh an fear seo mar dhuine príobháideach. Ba mhaith liom a chur in iúl don Teach go ndearna mé iarracht teacht ar an gCathaoirleach faoin alt a scríobh sé. Tuigim, áfach, go bhfuil sé as an tír faoi láthair agus nach mbeidh sé ar ais go ceann coicíse.
Anois nuair atá an deontas á thabhairt ar ais do Choiste Ghlór na nGael in Iarthar Bhéal Feirste, is trua go bhfuil rud mar seo ag tarlú a d'fhéadfadh dochar a dhéanamh do chás na Gaeilge sa Tuaisceart, go háirithe i súile na nAondachtóirí.
Ba mhaith liom an deis seo a thapú chun a dheimhniú don Teach gurb é polasaí an Rialtais go mba chóir lán-tacaíocht a thabhairt do na náisiúnaithe bunreachtúla sa Tuaisceart. Léirigh an Taoiseach an pointe seo ag Ard-Fheis Fhianna Fáil nuair adúirt sé:
The democratic leaders of constitutional nationalism know that we fully support their untiring search for dialogue and for political structures based not on domination but on an honourable accommodation between both traditions on this island.
Dheimhnigh an tAire Gnóthaí Eachtracha an pointe céanna ag Tráth na gCeist ar an 27 Feabhra seo caite nuair adúirt sé go mba chóir tacú leis an SDLP i mBeál Feirste Thiar (Díospóireacht Dála den 27 Feabhra 1992: Colún 873).
Ag féachaint do na pointí seo go léir, ní fhéadfadh amhras ar bith a bheith ar éinne maidir le seasamh an Rialtais sna gnóthaí seo.