asked the Minister for the Environment the reason he refuses to meet local authority delegations which include members of the Sinn Féin Party.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Authority Delegations to Minister.
10.
I would refer the Deputy to the statement issued by the Government on 20 February 1984 indicating that the Government have decided that they would not meet deputations that include members of Provisional Sinn Féin. This embargo will not apply to any members of Provisional Sinn Féin who publicly disassociate themselves from the IRA campaign of violence.
Can the Minister say if all members of Fine Gael and Labour who comprise the Government are to apply this embargo at every level of Government?
That seems to be a separate question. It is not properly directed to the question on the Order Paper.
What is the Government's policy in regard to membership of local authorities in this matter in so far as members of their parties are concerned?
That seems to be another question.
In the reply I stated clearly what the Government's policy is: that the embargo will apply to members of Sinn Féin who do not publicly disassociate themselves from the campaign of violence. As I have said, a statement on the matter has been made by the Government.
Is there not an inconsistency between the policy at Government level and himself as a member of the Labour Party vis-à-vis the action of the Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Higgins, in voting for a Sinn Féin chairman of Galway County Council?
That is a totally separate question.
We should like to know if there is one policy at central Government level and another at local government level in this matter.
That question is not properly directed.
The Minister has responsibility for local authorities and I should like to hear how he can justify applying this embargo at central Government level while ignoring it at local government level.
I am ruling that to be a separate question.
I have not ignored the matter at any level. There is no inconsistency.
There is a very inconsistent line being taken. It is a matter of doing what suits at any time. It is laughable.