asked the Taoiseach if he will outline any other articles of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, besides Article 4, in which the Government believe they do not have an initiating role.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Anglo-Irish Agreement.
1.
The Government interpret all the provisions of the agreement in a constructive and, at the same time, realistic way.
I wonder why the Taoiseach has not answered the question which was asked specifically, that was whether there is in fact any Article, besides Article 4, in which the Government believe they do not have an initiating role and in particular if they believe that they should take an initiative under the Article in the agreement which relates to the parliamentary tier.
The first thing is to interpret the agreement and to decide what the agreement says or envisages and the second thing is to decide from time to time whether in any particular area the Government should take an initiative. Regardless of whether the Government take an initiative it would not in my view be confined exclusively to the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Initiatives might be taken in accordance with the terms of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, or initiatives might be taken through the normal diplomatic process. Therefore, what I am saying is that there is a difference between what the agreement says, what the agreement empowers us to do and what the agreement compels us to do and the Government taking initiatives in any particular area.
In view of the Taoiseach's total non-answer to the original question and to the supplementary which I asked, would he not agree that at best somebody listening to this exchange would have to assume there was no great enthusiasm on the part of the Government for the Anglo-Irish Agreement and in particular would he answer the question in regard to the Article on the parliamentary tier which I would have thought, and I ask the Taoiseach if he would agree, is important now and in respect of which an initiative should be taken?
I must say that I regard the statement made by the Deputy about enthusiasm or the lack of it for the Anglo-Irish Agreement as irresponsible and mischievous. I have already suggested to him that he would be much better spending his time examining whether the British Government were complying fully with the terms and spirit of the agreement than in attempting to undermine this Government in their approach to Anglo-Irish relations.
Can the Taoiseach give to the House his reasoned appraisal on the worth of the Anglo-Irish Agreement and tell us if there are any initiatives we can take under the agreement which we would not be quite free to take without it?
There are initiatives which the Government could take under the terms of the agreement which would not otherwise be open to us. The main thing the agreement does is create the specific machinery and a secretariat through which matters can be raised and discussed and in which views and proposals can be put forward. That in itself would answer the Deputy's question.
From the Taoiseach's earlier response to Deputy O'Malley may I infer that the Government are now contemplating taking a political initiative separate from the Anglo-Irish Agreement?
I did not say that. What I tried to say was that while there are initiatives which can be taken under the Anglo-Irish Agreement there are other channels for taking initiatives — the normal diplomatic channels are still there. In fact, in the next question which has been put down by Deputy Barry I will be giving an example of that.
Would the Taoiseach confirm that he would see as the main purpose of the Anglo-Irish Agreement the provision of a forum, the Conference, in which we can bring complaints in regard to the activities of the British Government?
I have already dealt with all of these matters on a previous occasion and at this stage I have nothing further to add. I explained on that occasion that these are very complex matters and issues and to be giving replies across the House in answer to supplementaries is not a very satisfactory way of dealing with something of such fundamental importance which has such serious implications.
I must say that I agree with the Taoiseach that it is not a very satisfactory way but the responses which we are getting to the questions we are asking are also extremely unsatisfactory. Many Nationalists north of the Border will be very disappointed with the lack of enthusiasm which is being shown by the Government for what they clearly see as something which has dramatically changed their lives over the last two years.
A final supplementary from Deputy Blaney.
Could the Taoiseach tell us whether, from our point of view, despite what Deputy Barry might have said about it, all we have been given within the Anglo-Irish Agreement is the right, which we have always had, to make proposals and to express our views and that at the end of the day it is the British who will decide what is to be done? We can do that without any agreement.
That is taking an extremely restricted and limited view of the agreement. The main thing the agreement does in that context is to create the machinery and a secretariat which can be used for specific purposes and which, despite Deputy Barry's continual sniping in this regard, this Government use to the full. Before we came into office we gave as our view that if the secretariat process could be used to improve the situation of the Nationalist people of Northern Ireland, or indeed of the people of Northern Ireland generally in any way, it would be wrong not to avail of it for that purpose.
Question No. 2 in the name of Deputy Peter Barry, please.
I would be very glad to desist from sniping if I were satisfied about what the Taoiseach was doing.
It is all give and no take.
Certainly, there is no give.
(Interruptions.)
We are securing it in our own interests.
Do not be codding yourself.