asked the Minister for Justice the nature of and the outcome of his talks with Mr. Merlyn Rees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Northern Secretary of State Talks.
3.
An agreed statement was issued by Mr. Rees and myself at the conclusion of our meeting. I have nothing to add to that statement, the text of which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I am arranging to have circulated with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Meeting between Minister for Justice, Mr. Patrick Cooney, T.D., and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt. Hon. Merlyn Rees, M.P.
Agreed Statement.
(1) At the meeting last week in London between the Taoiseach, Mr. Liam Cosgrave, T. D., and the Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Harold Wilson, M.P., it was agreed that a security meeting between the Minister for Justice, Mr. Patrick Cooney, T.D., and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt. Hon. Merlyn Rees, M.P., would be held to discuss practical measures to end political violence in Northern Ireland irrespective of its source and motive. This meeting was held at Dublin today. The Minister for Local Government, Mr. James Tully, T.D., joined the meeting for a working lunch.
(2) There was a full discussion on matters of mutual concern in the field of security. The talks will be followed by further discussions between officials of the Irish and United Kingdom's Governments on specific aspects of problems deriving from politically motivated violence on the border and elsewhere. Particular attention was paid to improvement of communications between the Garda Síochána and the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
(3) The talks also dealt with the arrangements to be made for the introduction in Dáil Éireann and the United Kingdom Parliament of legislation to implement the recommendations of the Common Law Enforcement Commission Report.
(4) After the meeting Mr. Cooney and Mr. Rees emphasised the considerable value of the talks and underlined the need for close co-operation.
Issued at 1700 hours.
18 September, 1974.