asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will list the factors which influenced him in his recent action at the Council of Europe; and whether any consultation with the other countries concerned will be held.
27.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Council of Europe Meeting.
26.
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent Council of Europe Ministerial meeting, with particular reference to Ireland's role in the discussion of the question of Greece's membership of the council.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 27 together.
I presume that Deputy O'Leary is referring to action in regard to the Greek case and, in particular, to events which have occurred since the date he put down his question.
The Government had joined with a number of other European Governments in sponsoring a resolution at the recent meeting of the committee of ministers of the Council of Europe in regard to the suspension of Greece from the council. Deputies will know, however, the resolution in question was not voted upon, as Greece withdrew from the council beforehand. In taking this action the Government was influenced in particular by the manifest violation by Greece of the statute of the council—particularly Article 3, which reads:
Every member of the council of Europe must accept the principle of the rule of law and of the enjoyment of all persons within its jurisdiction of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and collaborate seriously and effectively in the realisation of the aim of the Council as specified in Chapter I.
As I indicated in my statement at the meeting, the text of which was published in the Irish newspapers, I felt that no substantial steps were being taken to restore constitutional democracy and the rule of law in Greece and that the time had come to take a positive stand in the matter.
With regard to the second half of Question No. 26, under the terms of the resolution adopted at the meeting of the committee of ministers, the Minister's Deputies will now settle the administrative and financial consequences of the situation.
If the Government had taken this decision in view of the manifest breaches of the principles of the Council of Europe, why was the Minister so reluctant to tell this to the House? The House will appreciate there are circumstances in which it would be injudicious for the Government to disclose its hand in international negotiations beforehand. However, would the Minister not agree that in a case like this where a decision was apparently taken and the Minister had authority to act in this way, there was nothing to be gained by not disclosing this to the people of this country, and that, in fact, failure so to disclose it could raise suspicions in regard to the Government's attitude which, in the light of events, have proved unfounded?
I think I was right. First of all, there was no way of knowing that before the date of the meeting the Greek government would not bring in reforms, democratic processes, or make some movement. There was no way of knowing what form of resolution would finally be put to the meeting. Events proved that the resolution which I supported in the morning—and I think our supporting it had an influence on the situation—was not the resolution which was put to the meeting at all. We did not know whether the reforms which would be required to prevent the suspension of a member country would be brought into operation or what type of resolution would be put forward; these were unknown quantities. I think I was right not disclosing my mind until the meeting.
If these were unknown quantities does the Minister not agree it would be better for this country's prestige in Europe if the Minister had made a conditional statement announcing his intention along with other countries in Europe? This would have avoided the unfortunate position of statements being made in newspapers such as the Sunday Times that Ireland was neutral or was going to abstain.
We cannot have a debate at this stage.
I do not think there is anything to be ashamed of if the newspapers do not know what you are thinking. Certainly I made the broad attitude of the Government with regard to the Greek regime clear in July and November. There were serious considerations for waiting until the meeting took place to see if any new circumstances arose which might force one to change one's mind. I think we behaved exactly as we should have behaved in this particular case. I think we did exactly the right thing.
Does the Minister consider he made the right decision for the wrong reason?
I made the right decision for the right reason.
Does the Minister agree there is a legitimate divergence on the tactics adopted but that this House supports the action he did in fact take?
Question No. 28 postponed.