asked the Taoiseach if, as a result of the issues raised by the recent referendum campaign, he will consider relaunching the constitutional crusade announced by him when he was previously Taoiseach.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Constitutional Crusade.
3.
As I indicated to the House on 10 May 1983, when a similar question was asked by the Deputy, I propose to leave to one side the question of the constitutional review until the New Ireland Forum has completed its work.
My question relates to the constitutional crusade which the Taoiseach said in September 1981 he intended to pursue. The question of a constitutional review is slightly different. Has the Forum as yet discussed the question of the Constitution? If not, when does it intend to discuss it?
Questions on the Forum are not appropriate for discussion in this House. The debates to which the Deputy is referring are being held in private at present and we will be producing a report in due course. I am not sure that I understand his distinction between the words "constitutional crusade" in his question and "constitutional review". The word "crusade" came in because when I was interviewed on this subject on a radio programme the interviewer referred back to the use of the word "crusade" in a different context with Deputy Lenihan a few days earlier. I used it consequently in an ironical or self-deprecating sense which may not have been publicly understood.
Sancho Panza tilting at windmills.
I am simply making the point that, in view of the issues which arose in the referendum campaign, the degree of sectarian feeling that emerged at that time, and the unfortunate, unspeakable atrocity which occurred at the weekend which arose from sectarian feeling, there is a need for parties in this part of the country to engage in a crusade of some kind to overcome the sectarianism which exists in Northern Ireland and in the Republic. Regardless of what the Forum is doing, will the Taoiseach engage in some form of crusade to encourage people to think of politics in a non-sectarian way?
I understand and sympathise, in a general way, with the sentiments expressed by the Deputy and in anything I say or do, I will endeavour to diminish the sectarianism which exists in our country and which has had such appalling consequences over the last decade or so. At a time when in the Forum three parties in this House and the SDLP in Northern Ireland are considering together the whole question of how we secure peace and stability in this island it is right that I refrain from particular proposals or initiatives or even speeches which might be in any way divisive or make it more difficult for the parties to reach a consensus which I hope they will reach. If they can reach a consensus the proposals for peace and stability in this island would necessarily involve facing up to the issue of sectarianism. The benefits would be very great and I would do nothing that would endanger any such outcome.