asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the approach of this country to the admission to the UN of the People's Republic of China at the forthcoming session of the UN.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - UN China Seat.
17.
Our position on the question of the representation of China in the United Nations will, as usual, be reviewed in advance of discussion of the item at the forthcoming session of the General Assembly, taking account of all relevant developments.
In view of the fact that on a previous occasion when this matter was raised the Irish delegation were in favour of their admission on the assumption, I presume, that it would be better to have China under the control of the United Nations rather than have them outside it, would the Minister say if the Irish delegation have changed their minds?
We have always stated clearly that it was desirable that the People's Republic of China should be in the United Nations. The problem has been what would happen to the Taiwan representatives. The Deputy is incorrect in saying that we voted in favour of China being admitted: we abstained.
The Minister's predecessor spoke very strongly in favour of their being admitted.
Up to last year we voted against the particular resolution but we changed then to abstention and we voted in favour of the item being considered as a item of importance. It required a certain procedural motion. We consider it desirable that China would be in the UN but it is desirable in our minds also that some solution be found for the position of the Taiwan representative.
Does the Minister feel able to vote in favour this year now that the Americans are in favour?
Our foreign policy has not been influenced at any time and this has been explained time and again to the House. To coincide with other people in certain votes at certain times is not to say that we have not an independent stand of our own. There was account given to the House by me of the number of times our voting coincided with the voting of any other particular country. I think if the Deputy looks at it he will see that——
I did look and I found it very unconvincing.