asked the Taoiseach whether, during the course of his recent visit to the United Nations Organisation, he had any talks with a view to strengthening Ireland's participation in moves to favour nuclear disarmament.
2.
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers - Taoiseach's US Visit.
1.
asked the Taoiseach the official engagements which he fulfilled during the course of his recent visit to the United States, apart from his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly.
3.
asked the Taoiseach whether, during the course of his recent visit to the United States, he had any contacts with the US administration or with legislators with a view to encouraging the passage of legislation in favour of non-documented Irish immigrants.
4.
asked the Taoiseach if he availed of the opportunity presented by his visit to the United States to impress on the members of Congress our concern to see the new immigration laws enacted as soon as possible.
5.
asked the Taoiseach if, during his visit to the United States, he underlined to the various groups with whom he met the abhorrence of virtually all the people of Ireland for violence and our wish that nobody in the United States would give financial or any other form of support to organisations who use violence for political ends.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5 inclusive, together.
The purpose of my visit to New York was to address the United Nations Third Special Session on Disarmament. The text of my address is available in the Library. In that address, I set out fully Ireland's position on disarmament and in particular on nuclear disarmament.
Apart from addressing the United Nations General Assembly, I had discussions during the visit, which lasted a little over a day, with the Secretary General of the United Nations on a range of world issues. The Secretary General expressed his gratitude for Ireland's continued support for UN peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon, Afghanistan and elsewhere. I also had bilateral meetings in New York with the Chairman of the Special Session, the Prime Minister of Finland and the Foreign Minister of China, the Foreign Minister of New Zealand and the Foreign Minister of Iran, during which we discussed matters of common interest to our countries. In the case of the Iranian Minister, I emphasised the Government's concern about Mr. Brian Keenan and he undertook to look into the matter and see if there was anything his Government could do.
I had a meeting with the US executives of the principal semi-State bodies and discussed with them their plans and their concerns.
I raised the situation of Irish emigrants in the United States during my visit in April and the Government's concern is well known there. The whole issue continues to be pursued energetically by the Government at political and diplomatic level with the Congress and Administration in Washington and elsewhere.
I and my Government are clear and unequivocal in condemning political violence and terrorism which I regard as the common enemy of all civilised Governments. This condemnation is articulated whenever the occasion requires.
I must say that I am a little surprised at the Taoiseach taking Questions Nos. 1 to 5 together on the pretext that they related to the one visit. I think that you will allow me a little latitude, Sir, to congratulate the Taoiseach on what seems to have been a much more constructive visit than his previous one to New York.
In relation to Question No. 1, does the Taoiseach believe that, following on the various statements which he made during the course of his address to the United Nations Organisation, there is any place for a new initiative by the non-nuclear states to push forward the process of nuclear disarmament?
I canvassed that idea, but I would think that the general view is that the whole question of disarmament now falls into two separate categories, on the one hand, these very welcome negotiations and discussions between the super-powers which are achieving results and then, in parallel with that, are the efforts of the United Nations. I think that the general view at the present time would be that the matters should be left to those two separate sets of procedures.
I might add, for the information of the Deputy, that since the questions were put down I have had an opportunity to have a briefing from the Special Russian Envoy who participated in all the discussions and negotiations leading up to Moscow and in Moscow and, without attempting to be too optimistic about it, I would say that he is looking forward to a considerable improvement in developments in the whole disarmament situation.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that a great deal of the thrust of his remarks at the United Nations was to point out the deficiencies and disappointments in relation to UN action on nuclear disarmament over a substantial period? Indeed, he mentioned himself a series of initiatives over the past 30 years which have produced very disappointing results. Would the Taoiseach also not agree that he himself referred to the fact that it was not sufficient to leave the question of nuclear disarmament to the two super-powers and that, therefore, there must be a place in the complex of relationships within the United Nations for other countries outside of that direct negotiation to play a new role?
Yes. I think, though, that the non-nuclear states can be most effective through the machinery of the United Nations. I would also have to say that in the margins of the Conference the view was that this particular special Conference would have to lay aim for rather limited objectives because of the general situation prevailing in the nuclear states and throughout the United Nations generally.
I hope that I am not ruling myself out for supplementary questions on the other matters that I have raised. On this issue, would the Taoiseach not agree that it would be useful for the non-nuclear states now to consider what kinds of diplomatic pressure they could bring to bear on the nuclear states outside of the context of the United Nations, in order to heighten the effect of what might happen within the United Nations structure itself?
That is something that could always be considered but, if the Deputy reflects on it, he might agree that because these very important and detailed negotiations are going on between the two powers and because a general debate is taking place at the special conference, it might be better to let things develop a little in both those areas before proceeding with any other initiative.
In the Taoiseach's initial response to Questions Nos. 1 to 5, he mentioned that he had a meeting with the heads of the Irish semi-State bodies in New York. According to my information, an instruction issued from the Taoiseach's office ordering the heads of those bodies to be at the airport for his arrival in the United States. Did that meeting take place and, if so, what was its purpose given that he would be meeting them the following day?
I am not aware of anything of the kind referred to by the Deputy. My only objective was to have a meeting with the executives to discuss their general activities, objectives and problems. I wanted to give any help I could and I am not aware of any other directive which may have been issued.
Were they at the airport on the Taoiseach's arrival?
Not as far as I can remember. Some of them may have been there as a matter of courtesy but I did not attribute any particular importance to it.
In relation to Question No. 3, has the Taoiseach formed any opinion as to the likelihood of the new emigration initiatives being taken in the United States producing results during the course of this year?
Is the Deputy referring to emigration?
Immigration.
The situation is — to use a cliché — ongoing. As the Deputy knows, the Kennedy legislation has gone through the Senate and the action has now moved to the House of Representatives. It is difficult to make an assessment but there is a certain amount of optimism among our diplomatic service and our friends. It may be possible to get the legislation through before the presidential election.
6.
asked the Taoiseach the number of members of the public service, in the broadest acceptance of that phrase, who accompanied him on his recent visit to New York or travelled to New York in connection with it; the estimated cost of their attendance there, including both travel and subsistence expenses; and the notional value of their time expressed as the appropriate proportion of their annual salaries.
Six officials accompanied me as the official party on my recent visit to New York. The estimated cost of their attendance there is £19,342. I would not be prepared to give any estimate of the notional value of their time as I believe this to be far too vague a concept to be meaningful.