asked the Taoiseach if he will state the Departments concerned in the inter-departmental study on the economic implications of unity; and if he will indicate the duration of this study.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Economic Implications of Unity.
1.
All Departments with functions which impinge on the economic implications of unity are involved in these ongoing studies.
Can the Taoiseach state if he expects to have any concrete proposals for Irish unity and the mechanism—economic and social —whereby they could be brought into effect, which he could put to the Northern population at a time when they would be having a plebiscite on the possibility of unity?
That is a different question and I do not think the Deputy should be so naive.
Can the Taoiseach say how it is proposed to raise the sums that would be necessary to bring our own expenditure on social services into line with those expended in the North?
That is a different question.
Could the Taoiseach say if he has any information at his disposal from the work of this committee which would suggest how these sums are to be raised, that would balance the amount of money spent in the South——
That is a different matter and does not arise on the question.
The committee have views but they will not indicate them at this stage.
In making the case for Irish unity to the Northern population, would the Taoiseach not agree that it would be useful to have information on the economic implications? Would the Taoiseach not agree that a question to that effect is not naïve but is very important?
What I think is naïve is that the Deputy wants me to spell it out.
It is to be a big secret from the Northern electorate?
Would Deputies please make an effort to proceed with questions? I am calling Question No. 2.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that part of our insincerity on the achievement of unity by consent and agreement is lack of information to the Northern Unionists on constitutional and economic questions? The Taoiseach's attitude and that of his Government appears to be to give no information to people who, in all sincerity, might be looking for a way to support unity by consent and agreement.
That is not the attitude, as the Deputy well knows. It is not possible to spell out these things in answer to parliamentary questions. In any event, these matters will ultimately be for negotiation. As the Deputy well knows, there are two sovereign parliaments involved also. It is not possible to put everything on paper.
I would ask Deputies to proceed with questions. I have already called Question No. 2.
May I ask the Taoiseach why the information being compiled by the inter-departmental committee is not being made available to the all-party committee on the implications of Irish unity? If this committee are anxious to do their work expeditiously, why should they not have access to the range of work which has now been hatching for a long time at inter-departmental level?
Of course, if the inter-departmental committee wanted information they would get it.
Question No. 2.