asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the Government's policy on the admission of China to the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Admission of China to UN.
27.
Since the Deputy tabled his question, the United Nations General Assembly has decided to seat the representatives of the People's Republic of China in place of the representatives of the Republic of China. As he is aware, Ireland voted for this proposal.
The seating of the Peking representatives in the Security Council is, of course, a matter for that body.
Has it always been the policy of this Government to vote for a motion which excludes a country from an assembly such as the United Nations, as they did on this occasion?
We voted for the inclusion of a large part of the world's population as a member of the United Nations.
Is it not true that this vote resulted in the expulsion of another section representing 14,000,000 people?
There is a difference between 800,000,000 and 14,000,000.
Was it on that basis you decided?
Question No. 28.
While we are all agreed and we are all in favour of Red China obtaining entry and coming to the negotiating table, I am very disappointed by the Minister's reply to this question. He should have outlined the reasons for our Ambassador voting in the way he did.
Will the Deputy please sit down?
(Interruptions.)
I am not talking about red or white or green. I am talking about the fact of life that 800,000,000 people were unrepresented at this Assembly and we wanted them represented. That is the sensible attitude.
Question No. 28.
It is about time you took it up and gave up this old blah about 1920 and stuck to 1971.
Take a look at him. The fellow who walked the narrow line for the past year. The one that got away.