asked the Minister for External Affairs whether any statement was issued by the Chargé d'Affaires of the Irish Legation in Rome commenting on the incidents which took place in Windsor Park, Belfast, on 4th December, 1957, during the course of a football match between a Six-County selection and Italy; and, if so, if he will make available the full text of the statement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Comments on Belfast Football Match.
Consequent on a number of telephone calls from the Press and the public, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Irish Legation in Italy issued on 5th December, 1957, the following statement:—
"Arising out of misunderstandings among the Italian public and Press, it is necessary to explain that Belfast is the principal city of the Six Counties which constitute so-called Northern Ireland, still held by Britain against the will of the great majority of the people in the whole island of Ireland. The team which played against Italy yesterday is, therefore, representative only of the six counties of Ireland divided from the remaining twenty-six counties which make up the rest of the country.
Apart from this fact, I can say that all Ireland regrets very much the incidents which took place yesterday in Belfast on Irish territory."