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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 22 Jul 1969

Vol. 241 No. 7

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Partition of Ireland.

1.

asked the Taoiseach if he will state in the light of his replies of 16th July whether, in his view, the question of the partition of Ireland does or does not remain relevant to the question of entry by the Government of Ireland into military commitments.

The question of the partition remains relevant to the question of any possible entry by Ireland into military commitments to the extent that no undertaking or commitment would be considered which would impede the fulfilment of the national will to restore the territorial unity of Ireland.

Since the Taoiseach has told us on 16th July that our neutrality in the last war was determined by the division of our country, would he not agree that as the division of our country still exists the factor which, according to him, then determined our neutrality still exists and that, therefore, we have as good reason to be neutral now as we had during the last war?

Circumstances will have changed, I believe, entirely. In any event, our neutrality will be determined in relation to current events and I do not think the fact that we were neutral in the last war would in any way impede this Parliament from taking a decision that would make us non-neutral in other circumstances, for example, in the case of obligations under the EEC as they develop.

A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, in view of the unsatisfactory——

Would the Deputy like to ask a few more questions? I have answered him.

Perhaps the Taoiseach will permit me to proceed with my point? I thank him.

The Deputy just wants to raise the matter on the Adjournment because he has not time to ask questions, or something. Why not ask more questions and I will answer him?

This is a very serious issue.

I want to raise it on the Adjournment because of its high national importance and because the traditional policy of the Government party is undergoing change, change which is not understood by the electorate. I think it is urgent that the public mind——

We cannot have a debate on this question. The Chair will deal with the Deputy's request and will communicate with the Deputy.

When the Deputy deliberately cuts himself short from asking supplementary questions, how can he submit to the Chair that my answering is unsatisfactory?

Tell us why a former Taoiseach would not join NATO.

I am entitled to ask this question when the Deputy deliberately stops asking supplementaries. Nobody stopped him.

I am glad to know that the Taoiseach would like me to ask further supplementary questions on this subject and I shall oblige him at a future date.

The procedures of the House ought not to be abused, either.

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