asked the Taoiseach if he will expand on his statement that chinks had appeared in the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement; if the Government have any plans as to how these chinks may be dealt with; and if he sees any basis for the removal of these chinks in future discussions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Trade Agreement.
2.
The Deputy will, I hope, appreciate that disclosure at this stage of the Government's negotiating position in the talks now in progress with the British authorities may not be helpful to these talks. I do not, therefore, propose to add at present to what I said last week in reply to questions on the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary think it would further annoy the British if we spoke about some chinks that are appearing, and that we must keep secret what these chinks are ?
I said it would weaken our position in the negotiations if we discussed what we propose to raise at these discussions.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary serious in suggesting that there is any secret about the chinks that have appeared in the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement?
I have said that at this stage to disclose what we have in mind would weaken our hand.
To disclose what is happening?
Surely it would strengthen it.
No, I do not think so.
Of course, it would.