asked the Taoiseach whether any member of the Government or representative of the Government has been officially invited to attend the Springboks-Ireland match; and if so, whether it is his intention to advise them to refuse such invitation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Springboks-Ireland Match.
1.
I understand that no invitation has been received by any Parliamentary Secretary or Minister, other than the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and myself: in those two cases, the invitations have been declined. The second part of the Deputy's question, therefore, does not arise.
Could the Taoiseach tell me whether protocol would permit, in a situation such as this where the Government clearly disapprove of the policy of apartheid and racism, implicit in their refusal, that they should indicate to the President this disapproval——
That is a separate question. The President is not mentioned in the question.
——not only on a matter of principle but also lest he might be involved in unseemly scenes——
The Deputy is putting a separate question.
——owing to the fact that the match will be held?
I cannot answer that. In so far as the question was also raised last week I might say that some newspaper reports carried headings that I had snubbed the Springboks. Deputies will remember that, towards the end of the supplementaries, Deputy Cruise-O'Brien asked me a question about receiving an all-white team. I said, in reply to that question, that I am not receiving them. I was not asked by the Irish Rugby Football Union to receive them—or any other rugby team for that matter.
In the event of the Taoiseach's receiving such an invitation, would he receive them?
No——
That is more explicit, then.
——for many reasons.