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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - White Paper on Foreign Policy.

Ray Burke

Question:

18 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason for the ongoing postponement of the publication of the White Paper on Foreign Affairs; when the documents will be published; the amendments, if any, that were made to the White Paper since November 1995; and the policy matters that these amendments relate to. [2421/96]

Dermot Ahern

Question:

37 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when the White Paper on Foreign Policy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19438/96]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 37 together.

I expect to bring the White Paper on Foreign Policy to Government within the next fortnight and it is my firm aim that it should be published within a month from now.

Work on the text of the White Paper has been continuing for the last ten months, following the completion of the process of public consultation arranged to allow the views of the wider public to be taken into account. Given that foreign policy covers such a wide range of interdependent issues, preparation of the White Paper has involved intensive consultations both within the Department of Foreign Affairs and between that Department and other Departments. More recently, I have sought the informal opinion of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Social Welfare on the content of the White Paper. A final draft text of the White Paper is now almost ready for submission to Government.

The White Paper has gone through many drafts in this process. Every part of the text dealing with all areas of foreign policy has been continually amended and updated, particularly over the last three months as work has intensified. It would not be possible to list all the changes which have been made to the text during that period, even if it were appropriate to do so.

While the preparation of the White Paper has taken longer than I had originally anticipated, there has not been an undue delay, given the effort of the Government to take full account of public opinion, and the fact that this is such a complex area of activity. My priority, rather than meeting any artificial deadline, has been to ensure the publication of a White Paper which will give the people a genuine insight into our foreign policy and will encourage public debate on our role, responsibilities and interests in the world. I am confident that when the White Paper is published it will succeed in doing just that.

The publication of the White Paper has been unduly delayed. The Minister's inquires and hearings concluded early last summer. The White Paper was supposed to be published during the summer, in early autumn, before Christmas and then in January. We must now wait until the end of February to consider it.

Will military neutrality, our relationship with the Western European Union, NATO membership and the Partnership for Peace be clearly outlined in the White Paper in advance of the Intergovernmental Conference which will start at the end of next month?

I hope to bring the White Paper to Government within a fortnight and then I must allow ten to 14 days for printing. I will ensure the Deputy gets a copy and I hope he reads every page of it.

I will read some pages more carefully than others.

I assure the Deputy we will be able to satisfy him on all issues and that those which are of relevance to foreign policy will be dealt with in a forthright and straight manner.

I hope it is done in a forthright way to allay concerns. Will the Tánaiste assure us that our observer status will be maintained within the Western European Union and that it will not be extended as there is no question of Ireland joining NATO's Partnership for Peace? Obviously there is no question of our joining NATO. I give him and the Minister for Social Welfare credit for that. I do not know how the Tánaiste will resolve that with Fine Gael, but that is his problem. In advance of the publication of the White Paper, will the Tánaiste assure the Irish people that the positive features of neutrality which they hold dear will be maintained after its publication?

I detect a sense of anticipation in Deputy Burke's tone. A few moments ago he berated the leaking of information in advance of the publication of documents. As I have control over this document, on this occasion the Deputy can await its publication when he can read it in full.

We will see if some of its contents are leaked in advance of its publication.

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