asked the Taoiseach the member of the Government who attended the meeting of Foreign Ministers of European Community which was held on 13 July 1981.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Foreign Ministers Meeting.
3.
The Government were represented at this meeting by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jim O'Keeffe, TD.
Is the Taoiseach aware of the report in the Irish Independent on the day following the meeting, 14 July, in which it is stated that Deputy Dr. FitzGerald instructed Foreign Minister designate Dooge to open immediate talks with his British counterpart, Lord Carrington, in Brussels? What was Professor Dooge's status on that occasion, arising out of such, if any, discussions with the British Foreign Secretary?
Professor Dooge, who had accompanied the acting Minister for Foreign Affairs to London for discussions with British Ministers several days earlier, was asked to take the opportunity in his capacity as adviser to the Department to have informal discussions with Lord Carrington because it was thought this might help towards a resolution of the problem in the Maze prison and that no opportunity of doing that should be missed.
Is the Taoiseach aware that under the Constitution and Statutory Instruments made under the Constitution, particularly by reason of Article 28 of the Constitution, every member of the Government must be a member of Dáil or Seanad Eireann? On this occasion was Professor Dooge acting as a member of the Government or as a representative of the Government? In what capacity was he so acting?
He was acting as someone who had attended in his capacity as adviser to the Department of Foreign Affairs pending his appointment as Minister. He had attended the meetings in London a few days earlier and was therefore well versed and well briefed. As someone who had informal contact with Lord Carrington he could draw Lord Carrington's attention as forcibly as possible to some of the considerations in the minds of the Irish Government.
It is a very undesirable departure into the realm of banana republicanism.
Please put it in the form of a question.
Why did the Taoiseach appoint Professor Dooge to speak on behalf of a sovereign Irish state in dealings with the Foreign Secretary of another sovereign state? Is this an initiation of a high degree of cronyism in high places?
I deplore the fact that Deputy Lenihan should seek to introduce this note in relation to such a serious matter. Since this Government have come into office they have made unremitting efforts to try to resolve the problem. We will not be deterred by any such attacks in using any channels open to us with a view to trying to find a solution.
Does the Taoiseach not consider it desirable that the highly sensitive negotiations and discussions that must take place on behalf of the Government between one Foreign Minister of a sovereign state and a foreign Minister of another sovereign state should be conducted by people who are properly appointed under the law and the Constitution and that we behave in international affairs as we should behave: as a sovereign independent state and be so regarded by other sovereign independent states?
Next question, please.