asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a decision has been taken on the breaking-off of diplomatic relations with Libya following continuing Libyan links with arms finds in recent weeks.
Written Answers. - Diplomatic Relations with Libya.
33.
In response to previous questions on this matter on 8 December last I emphasised that the Government's overriding concern is to assess at all stages what are the most effective means of ensuring that neither Libya nor any other country offers support of any kind, moral, political or material to subversive elements in this country. This remains the essential principle underlying the Government's approach.
The Government will maintain their prudent and measured approach based on a careful assessment of all the facts available to it. The Gardaí and French security forces remain in close contact in order to ensure that all relevant information is made available to the Government as the French judicial investigation into the operation engaged in by the Eksund and its crew develops. As I have made clear in response to earlier questions, the Government will, when the full facts are available to them, carefully assess what further action may be required.
There is a wider Twelve dimension to our concerns and I can assure the Deputy that the Twelve are actively examining in the European Political Co-operation framework how to improve co-ordination of their efforts to prevent the provision of material and other support to subversive organisations within the Twelve.
Media reports speculating on the origin of recent arms finds in the State are neither an adequate nor satisfactory basis for diplomatic action of the type suggested by the Deputy.