Vol. 244 No. 1
asked the Taoiseach if he intends to meet the British Premier regarding the present position in the Six Counties; if he is aware that a very uneasy peace seems to exist there; and if he is prepared to initiate talks along with the British Government and the Six County Government to help defuse the situation.
13.
asked the Taoiseach if he intends to meet the British Premier, Mr. Wilson in the near future; and, if so, the topics to be discussed.
I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.
I am aware of the continuing tension in the north. The extent and pace of the implementation of the necessary reforms and of the principle of equality of treatment for all in the area are critical short-term factors in the situation there. In the meantime I do not think that talks as proposed in the first question would have the suggested result. I have no plans to meet the British Premier in the near future.
Did the Taoiseach make any application to meet the British Premier, say, in the last six months?
I do not think the word application would be appropriate.
Request—sorry about that, Chief.
Not since the proposed meeting before the elections. There has not been any request.
Therefore, the last approach to Mr. Wilson was in May of last year?
Directly from me, yes.
Directly from you—was there a request from officials of your Department or from our Embassy in London for the Taoiseach to meet Mr. Wilson?
I am sorry. When I said "directly from me" I did not mean that there was any prevarication. I have not asked.
And nobody has asked on your behalf?
Nor on my behalf— yes.
Does the Minister hope to meet Mr. Wilson next March?
I would be glad to meet him at any time.
Has Mr. Wilson said that he is prepared to meet the Taoiseach next March?
No. There is no suggestion about March. I do not know where March comes from.
As has been pointed out, were you kicking your heels in the last nine months?
No. Let me be quite clear about this. When Mr. Wilson indicated a time that would be convenient for him to meet me it was not then convenient for me and I did not renew the request to meet him since.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the Ulster Volunteer Force is arming to the teeth and that many people of repute claim that civil war seems to be inevitable, that hate and fear are rampant, and does he not think it a good idea to point out all those things to the British Government and try to get the people to come together? Further, does the Taoiseach not believe that the speeches made by Mr. Blaney and by the hardliners at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis are also doing untold harm? Further, is the Taoiseach aware of the fact that he only reprimanded him in the corridors——
That is a separate question and does not arise.
These are the things that are doing the harm.
The question relates to a meeting with the British Premier.
No, Sir, it does not. Mr. Blaney is not yet British Premier, whatever about being Irish Premier. Is the Taoiseach not aware that those types of speeches are doing untold harm and when does he intend——
The Deputy may not make a speech at Question Time. He is entitled to ask a question. Deputy O'Connell.
I have asked the Taoiseach certain questions and is it his intention to answer any of them?
I will answer them in my own time. There is another man on his feet.
Would the Taoiseach state if there was any situation, economic or otherwise, serious enough to warrant such a meeting?
In the first place, in so far as Deputy L'Estrange's supplementary questions are concerned, I think the first part of Deputy L'Estrange's supplementary questions is likely to do more damage than anything that has been said on either side of the border in recent months. In reply to Deputy L'Estrange and Deputy O'Connell, there are always diplomatic channels open to us for discussions and communications at all levels and on any topic and there have been contacts with the British Government at different levels on economic matters in recent months, as the Deputy is aware.
But at ministerial level?
Ministers were over discussing the Free Trade Area Agreement before Christmas.
Is the Taoiseach aware that his own Ministers and Fianna Fáil Deputies are going around to club meetings at night telling the people that they were ready to go in on 15th August and that if it happened again——
This has nothing to do with the question. The Deputy may not make a speech. Will the Deputy allow questions to continue? The Deputy is making speeches.
The Government Party are behaving in a most irresponsible manner.
Question No. 14.
They are behaving in a most irresponsible manner, both their Ministers and Deputies, throughout the length and breadth of the country and it is time they behaved in a responsible manner.
The Deputy should behave himself.
What the Deputy has just said is false, mischievous and highly irresponsible.
It is quite true. I know what is said, that you as Taoiseach make your speeches to the Protestants and people with money in this country to keep them on your side. They have said that throughout the country and I know it.
The Deputy will resume his seat.
The Government are behaving in an irresponsible way, taking two sides of the road and the middle with them.
The Deputy is also irresponsible.
They are behaving throughout the country irresponsibly and it is time they were told the truth and the Taoiseach should know it.
The Deputy never told the truth in his life.
The Deputy does not know what is going on behind his back.
