asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the attitude the Government intend to adopt in relation to resolutions at the United Nations about negotiations between Britain and Argentina on the Malvinas/Falkland Islands.
9.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers - Malvinas/Falkland Islands.
8.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the reestablishment of democracy in Argentina, he intends to revert to the position of successive Irish Governments in relation to sovereignty over the Malvinas/Falklands.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 22 together.
The Government are carefully considering the text of a draft resolution tabled at the United Nations General Assembly on the Malvinas/Falklands Islands issue and their decision on the text will be made in due course.
As the Deputy is aware, the use of force by Argentina in its dispute with the UK, and the deaths on both sides which followed, have created an atmosphere unconducive to negotiations in present circumstances. The recent, unfortunate failure of the talks at Berne under Swiss auspices is further evidence of the difficulty and delicacy of the task involved in creating conditions in which a resolution of the dispute may be pursued.
In these conditions the Government must be careful to avoid taking or supporting any stance which might prejudice or otherwise adversely affect the prospects for a negotiated settlement of this longstanding dispute.