asked the Minister for External Affairs if, during the course of any recent discussions with the British Government, any request or demand was made by that Government or by any member of it for de jure recognition of the Stormont Government on the part of the Government of the Republic.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Discussions with British Government.
11.
No such request has been made.
When the Minister and the Taoiseach make statements in public indicating that the political position of Northern Ireland will not be altered unless by a majority decision and with the consent of the people living north of the Border, what constitutional implications are involved in these statements?
The Deputy asked me did we recognise the Stormont Government and, as the Deputy knows, the Stormont Government is not a sovereign government and would not attract recognition from any sovereign government.
I appreciate the point the Minister is making but the question I am asking him is: when the Minister and others state that the political position of Northern Ireland will not be interfered with except by a majority decision of the people living north of the Border, what is the constitutional implication of that statement?
That is a different question.
It arises out of the question.
It is a separate question.
Can we have an answer?
It is quite relevant.
Of course it is.
Is it not a fact that the Government already recognise the international entity known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland? Is that not a fact?
We always refused, as a matter of principle, to give recognition to Stormont and I see no good reason why we should now do so.
That is not an answer.
That was the question put down. I was not asked do I recognise the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I was asked do I recognise the Stormont Government and I said it is not a sovereign government and does not attract recognition from sovereign governments.
Will the Minister answer the simple factual question I put to him?
Will the Minister answer the question I put to him?
We cannot debate this question all evening. We have two hours of Question Time to deal with.
Many people are trying to understand the Minister's statements and I am merely asking him what is the constitutional implication of such a statement made by the Taoiseach or the Minister for External Affairs?
What statement?
That the political position of Northern Ireland will not be interfered with unless with the consent of the majority of the people living north of the Border.
If the Deputy wants to refer to a statement he should have the statement or refer to where he read it.
The Minister made the statement.
No. I will not accept what the Deputy says I said. I have enough trouble explaining what I say myself.
And reconciling it with some of the statements made by his colleagues. Is the Minister denying that statement?
I will not accept that I said anything that is thrown across the House by the Deputy. If the Deputy comes in here with something I said and gives its source and origin I will say what I said and what I meant by it.
Question No. 12.