Vol. 328 No. 4
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to reports of a statement by the London based representative of the PLO to the effect that an office of the PLO is to be established in Dublin and that the opening of such an office had the tacit agreement of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
20.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he met privately with Mr. Nabil Ramlawi who is the PLO's London representative; if a member of his staff met this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
21.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give the name and office held by the representative of the Arab League with whom he recently had a meeting; the date and location of that meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matters which were discussed.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 to 21 together.
On 11 March I was introduced to the person referred to in the Deputy's questions, who was at the time in the company of members of both sides of the Oireachtas who are members of the Irish Arab Parliamentary Association. The meeting took place in Leinster House. I had a brief conversation with him. I did not meet with him privately. The conversation referred in general terms to Irish policy in regard to the situation in the Middle East.
My attention was later drawn to the reports referred to and it was made clear in a statement issued to the media on my behalf that these were not correct.
Officials of my Department also met with Mr. Ramlawi and had an exchange of views on the situation in the Middle East and the Palestinian question on the following day.
Could the Minister put in the Library of the House a copy of the statement his Department issued in relation to the denial concerning the meeting to which he has just referred? Secondly, could the Minister indicate clearly now for the record of this House what is the Government's attitude to the proposed establishment of the PLO office in this city?
Our attitude was made quite clear in regard to the question of the PLO establishing a presence here in the form of an office. As far as we are concerned there is no question of recording diplomatic status or giving official recognition or permission to any such office. It is entirely a matter for a private organisation to establish an office if they wish. That is their business. It is as straightforward as that. As regards the Deputy's second question, I shall certainly put that document in the Library.
I thank the Minister. In view of the fact that one of the reasons reported to be connected with the refusal of the request of the State of Israel to establish a residential embassy here was related to the security consideration, would the Minister not agree that any proposal to establish an office of the PLO, private or otherwise, carries the same security risk that an Israeli residential embassy would carry? Therefore, does he not propose to take action on that ground alone, among others?
I do not propose to advise any action in regard to steps that may be taken by a private organisation. That is a matter for the security authorities and I am sure they will be able to deal with it adequately.
A final supplementary.
Is the Minister indicating that the Minister for Justice and the relevant security officials in this State would have the power, if his Department advised that there was a security risk attached to the establishment of a privately initiated PLO office in the State, to prevent it being established?
These are matters entirely for the security authorities. I shall not presume at this stage to say in what manner matters of that kind will be decided.
Questions Nos. 22, 23 and 24 are for written reply.
