Jim O'Keeffe
Question:1 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Taoiseach whether he has any plans to meet leaders of the Unionist parties in Northern Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dialogue with Unionist Political Leaders.
The Tánaiste and I have taken every possible opportunity to convey our desire for dialogue with Unionist political leaders. We sincerely hope that such dialogue will soon be realised.
As I said in my Bodenstown speech on 17 October, this Government's objective is a just and lasting peace. I would again like to reassure the Unionist community that we do not seek to impose a solution. We will uphold the principle that negotiations on a political settlement can only take place between democratic Governments and parties committed exclusively to constitutional methods.
I wish to take this opportunity to express my abhorrence at the horrendous death and injury inflicted upon defence-less men, women and children by the IRA's callous bombing on the Shankill Road on Saturday. The other sectarian murders and murder attempts of the previous and subsequent days stand equally condemned. I know that all Members of this House will join me in conveying our deepest sympathies to all the bereaved and injured.
To those who have inflicted such terrible suffering on the people of Northern Ireland through the years, I wish to say that the violence must be brought to an end.
I join with the Taoiseach in expressing sympathy to the bereaved of those killed in the tragedies during the past week. Will the Taoiseach agree that such horrendous tragedies, particularly those which took place on the Shankill Road, at the council depot and others, highlight the need for an accelerated approach to political dialogue and that, in effect, the need for talks with and between the constitutional parties was never greater? How does the Taoiseach suggest that such talks be got underway at the earliest possible date? Has he any specific idea to achieve that objective?
I agree with the sentiments expressed by Deputy O'Keeffe, that the talks process and dialogue should be restarted. Every effort that can be made is being made by both Governments to bring about that political dialogue and have the talks recommenced. We are ready to sit at the table today, tomorrow or whenever and so, too, are the Alliance Party and the SDLP. The question in regard to the Official Unionist Party remains open. There appears to be a tendency to return to the table, but the Democratic Unionist Party has steadfastly refused to do so. I should be in a better position to make a judgment on the present position following my meeting with the British Prime Minister next Friday.
Has the Taoiseach any specific proposal for arranging talks with the Unionists? Will he accept that a general invitation is unlikely to bring about a response in the short term, particularly because of the rather frosty reception some Unionists got when they came to Dublin last year? Does the Taoiseach not realise that it was possible for the Leader of our party, Deputy Bruton, myself and others to meet with the Unionists in Belfast yesterday? Will he agree that if he made a more direct approach to the Unionist parties, particularly the Official Unionist Party, it might lead to a more positive response?
I am concerned about an extension of this question, especially when, as the House is aware, this matter will be debated later.
I am focusing on a meeting with the Unionists.
My door is always open. On a number of occasions in the past invitations have been extended to those and we are all hopeful that political dialogue will take place. I am not aware of any occasion on which a Unionist leader came to Dublin and received a frosty reception.
Mr. J. Bruton rose.
I stated earlier that Members may not anticipate the debate which will ensue shortly. I will allow brief questions from the main spokespersons of the main Opposition parties, but there can be no elaboration——
On a point of order——
Deputy McDowell may not rise while the Chair is addressing the House.
On a point of order, has the House agreed to have a debate on Northern Ireland?
My office has been so informed.
Your office has been misinformed.
In the light of the valuable discussions it is possible to have with all parties in Northern Ireland, including the Unionists — and I speak from recent experience in that regard — may I suggest that the Taoiseach should go a little further than stating his door is always open? He should knock on the Unionist doors and ask if they will talk to him.
The Deputy can be assured that, literally, the knocking to which he referred has taken place and that an official invitation has been extended by the Tánaiste to Unionist leaders. They are well aware that we are anxious to sit down and talk to them whenever they are available.
I, too, wish to be associated with the Taoiseach's words of sympathy to those who were bereaved at the weekend. The photograph in yesterday's papers of Darren Baird holding his six week old sister tells the story more clearly than any words of ours. Given the Government's anxiety to have a debate later today on the developments in Northern Ireland, is the Taoiseach prepared to brief the leaders of the Opposition parties on the Hume-Adams talks?
That is a separate question.
I do not wish to be unhelpful.
The question before me asks the Taoiseach if he has any plans to meet leaders of the Unionist Parties in Northern Ireland.
I am trying to be helpful. I asked the Taoiseach if he will brief the Leaders of the Opposition parties about what is contained in the Hume-Adams proposals in advance of the debate later today in order to have a meaningful and effective debate.
I allowed that question last week.
There have been changes since then.
On behalf of Democratic Left I, too, would like to be associated with the vote of sympathy to those in Belfast who have suffered during the past few days. In view of the growing crisis in Northern Ireland, people would welcome a move by the Government to meet representatives of the largest community there. The Taoiseach stated that an invitation had been extended. The indications up to now were that the door was open. Will the Taoiseach indicate, the precise form of the invitation he extended to representatives of the majority in Northern Ireland to meet with him?
I stated that the Tánaiste invited leaders of the Unionist Parties in Northern Ireland to meet with him. I have had meetings with representatives of the communities in Northern Ireland on a regular basis. Last week I had three visits from various representatives. I do not advertise that this is the position and neither do they. They want to conduct business in that form and I will continue to do so as long as that is their wish.