asked the Taoiseach whether it is the policy of the Government to take every opportunity to inform the British people of the true facts relating to the division of this country and of its attitude to the path which must be followed in seeking a peaceful solution and in lessening misunderstanding between the two traditions mentioned in his New York speech.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unification of Ireland.
2.
Every suitable opportunity is taken to explain the Government's policy in relation to the unification of Ireland. Certainly there is greater understanding now than ever before, in Britain and in both parts of Ireland, of our views on this subject.
Is the Taoiseach aware that a British television programme—I think it was Tyneside, one of the British commercial companies— carried the views of spokesmen of what are referred to in this House as illegal organisations? Would the Taoiseach correct me if I am wrong in the statement that an attempt was made to get spokesmen from this Government to give their views on this programme which was relayed over large parts of Britain——
This is a matter——
——and on spokesman was obtainable. Is that correct?
Would the Deputy not put a question down? The Deputy should not couch a question in broad terms and then——
I have a question down: "To ask the Taoiseach whether it is the policy of the Government to take every opportunity to inform the British people on the true facts relating to the division of this country..." Is it correct that the Government refused to take the opportunity to go on British television last week?
Perhaps the Deputy would put down a question.
Is this true?
That is a separate question.
Is there no spokesman to go on television to explain these facts to the British people?
The Tánaiste tells me he spoke himself for a full quarter of an hour on British television last week.
Was he asked?
Yes.
How can the Taoiseach explain with any veracity to the world at large the policy of the Government in this regard when any self-respecting Prime Minister in any country would have long ago withdrawn the Whip from that large number of his parliamentary party who no longer support that policy?
That is an entirely different question.
It is just another unctuous statement from Deputy Desmond of the kind we have come to expect from him.
Would the Taoiseach agree that it is a serious matter that where there is a television programme on this problem no official spokesman can be obtained from this Government? Surely it is a disgraceful state of affairs.
If the Deputy gave me particulars of the programme I might be in a position to answer.
You no longer have a majority.
Would the Taoiseach——
Would Deputy O'Leary allow questions to continue?