Vol. 303 No. 7
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he approves of the proposed invitation of a South African team to participate in the World Tug-of-War Championship, due to be held in Dundalk next September; and if he will convey the Government's views on the subject to the organisers of the event.
37.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about the proposed attendance of a South African team at the World Tug-of-War Championship in Dundalk next September.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I will take Questions Nos. 36 and 37 together.
My attitude and that of the Government will be clear from the fact that an application from the organisers, the Irish Tug-of-War Association, to the Minister for Education for a grant to meet part of the cost of the event referred to was refused after consultation with my Department because it appeared to us likely that the South African team which proposed to take part would not be selected on a genuinely multi-racial basis.
I may also mention that the Irish Tug-of-War Association was informed some time ago, along with other international sporting organisations, of the Government's firm attachment to the Olympic principle of non-discrimination in sport. The attitude of the Government on this issue was also brought to the attention of the association at the end of 1976 when they proposed to take part in the World Tug-of-War Championship held in South Africa.
In view of the foregoing I do not think it is necessary to take further steps to convey the Government's views to the organisers of the event.
38.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in accordance with Government policy on apartheid, he will take action to ensure that no South African team is allowed to participate in the Golf World Cup, due to be played in Waterville, County Kerry.
39.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement about the invitation to a South African team to participate in the Golf World Cup competition in Waterville, County Kerry.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I will take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together.
I would refer the Deputies to my reply to a question in the Dáil on 14 December last in the course of which I stated:
While in my view it is for those directly concerned in cultural and recreational activities to make their own decision in matters of this kind, I would urge organisations and individuals concerned in arriving at their decisions to give due weight to the statements of the present Government and of their predecessors deploring the policy of apartheid; in particular, I would hope that they would decline to participate in events which are of their nature organised on a discriminatory basis.
