Jan O'Sullivan
Question:13 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent meeting in Dublin with the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Robin Cook. [4317/00]
Other Questions. - Ministerial Meetings.
The British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, was in Dublin recently on private business. The Minister for Foreign Affairs met him at an informal dinner at the British Ambassador's residence. The Minister welcomed the opportunity to meet the British Foreign Secretary and to discuss informally a number of international issues. There was no formal agenda nor was a statement issued.
Can I take it that, even though the meeting was informal, the Foreign Secretary's conversation extended to his ethical foreign policy? If it did, which themes were most developed over the meal? Was the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian talks raised and was the meeting conducive to British support for Ireland's aspiration to be elected to the Security Council?
I have no information on what was discussed over dinner.
Will the Minister report to the House on the discussions which the previous Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Andrews, had with Mr. Cook and if they came up again during this meeting? Was the alleged interception by the British authorities of telephone calls, e-mails and faxes from the Republic raised and, if so, what response was given? How does this fit in with the ethical conduct of British foreign policy, particularly when Britain has legislated for its right to monitor calls here for its economic and commercial benefit?
Sin ceist eile, mar a dearfá.
It is not—
An bhfuil freagra eile agat?
While the atmosphere in the British Ambassador's residence could be conducive towards a certain type of entertainment, it is a matter of importance as to whether the interception of calls between two countries that enjoy friendly relations for industrial espionage purposes was raised. It is a matter of interest unless one is simply interested in having gins and tonic with people at the drop of a hat, in which case one might as well take a walk down Grafton Street.
The Foreign Secretary was here—
The question referred to the discussions that took place between the previous Minister, Deputy Andrews, and the Foreign Secretary.
Let us presume they did not discuss the industrial espionage. What did they discuss, and if the Minister does not know what they discussed, how does he know they did not discuss it?
To correct the Minister, I also asked if the new Minister had raised the matter with Robin Cook at the dinner.
As I said, that is not the subject of Question No. 13.
I was previously on that side of the House answering questions for the Department of Foreign Affairs. I presume when the Minister comes to the House to make a statement on his recent meeting with the British Foreign Secretary in Dublin, the discussion will not be simply about the meeting, whether he was a nice guy, how he looked and if the beef was nice. We want to know about the content of the meeting. Surely that is in the Minister of State's brief. I accept he stepped in to take questions at the last minute but there must be some type of reply in the brief which he can read to the House. Did the Minister raise the interception of telephone calls from this country to Britain, a matter that was raised by me and others here and in the foreign affairs committee on several occasions?
The meeting was informal and no statement was issued.
We know that.
I am not aware of what was discussed at the meeting but the subject the Deputy is now raising is addressed in Question No. 81.
I know, but we will not get to that question.