asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider the banning of the export of computer and high technology equipment which may be used in administering the apartheid system; if the Government will formally recognise the African National Congress as the legitimate representative of the South African people; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Computer Exports to South Africa.
12.
As to the first part of the question, I would refer the Deputy to the reply given by my colleague, the Minister for Industry and Commerce, on 2 March last. My colleague told the Dáil on that occasion that he did not intend to introduce a unilateral ban on the export of computers to South Africa. He explained that such exports are allowed only under licence issued by him; that such licences are issued for only three months at a time, in order to allow continuous monitoring; and that, for the issue of a licence he requires, in accordance with the spirit of the relevant mandatory resolution of the UN Security Council, an undertaking from the consignee that the goods will not be used for military or police purposes.
As to the second part of the question, it is Ireland's practice to accord formal recognition only to States. However, the Government acknowledge the special status which the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity have accorded to both the African National Congress and the Pan Africanist Congress. We have called, together with our EC partners, for the ban on these and other organisations to be lifted, and we have maintained contact with ANC representatives in southern Africa.
I should like to commend the Government, and the previous Government, on their attitude to sanctions against the South African apartheid régime. The purpose of my question is to press the Government to further that policy. I should like to ask the Taoiseach if he is satisfied that such an undertaking from the South African Government can be accepted. Is the Taoiseach satisfied that computer and high technology equipment exported is not used in furtherance of the apartheid system for which computerisation is very important?
It is difficult to be totally satisfied but what we do, as I mentioned, is issue the licence for three months, monitor the situation as best we can and seek whatever guarantees and undertakings are necessary in the case of each licence.
In relation to the second part of the Taoiseach's reply, that the Irish Government only recognise states and not oppositions, I should like to ask the Taoiseach when this principle of Irish foreign policy was established and when it was announced to the Dáil. In addition, will the Taoiseach agree that where opposition forces are struggling with the support of the vast majority of the country involved, it is rather vague to be saying that after the struggle is over such forces when in Government will be recognised?
The Deputy is raising a specific matter worthy of a separate question.
My specific question is: when was this principle established?
I cannot give the Deputy the exact date, but it has been a traditional policy which has been followed in my time.
By whom?
By Irish Governments.
In the course of his reply the Taoiseach said the Government have been maintaining contact with the ANC and I should like to know at what level that contact is taking place and if any agreement or arrangements have been entered into with the ANC. For example, has Oliver Tambo, the head of the ANC been in contact with the Taoiseach's office? Has the Taoiseach responded to him? At what level is the contact?
The simplest answer I can give to the Deputy is that contact is at all levels that offer, and would appear to be beneficial at any stage.
Have any arrangements been made? What in the Taoiseach's view has been beneficial in this from the Irish point of view and have there been commitments to the ANC? What is deemed beneficial and to whom?
By and large any visitor of importance or significance to this country has been met by somebody at Government level. I have met some people. It is something about which you cannot be too specific. We follow the practice of our EC partners and indeed the United Nations in regard to the ANC. We award them special importance and we maintain contact to the extent that this is possible and necessary.
Am I correct in assuming that the ANC enjoy the same recognitional status in relation to Southern Africa as the PLO enjoy following the Bahrain declaration?
We act in this regard in consultation with our EC partners. We have acknowledged the special status which both the United Nations and the Organisation of African States have afforded to the ANC. We have also called for the ban on the ANC to be lifted. As I have said, we maintain contact with their representatives. If there is anything else the Deputy would like to suggest we would certainly consider it.
I want to pursue the issue of sanctions against South Africa. Am I correct in saying that Government policy is to get agreement of all the EC countries for a total ban on trade with South Africa? Is the Taoiseach pursuing within the EC the possibility of a total ban on the export of technological equipment, of the type to which I have referred, to South Africa so that the Government could then operate under the EC ban on technological exports?
I could not give the Deputy a definite answer to that specific question about a total ban on technological equipment but I can get the information for the Deputy as to what is the state of play in that regard. The Deputy is right in assuming that the Government's approach is that multilateral pressure is far more effective than pressure by one State.
Is the Taoiseach——
I am anxious to get on to another question. I have given a lot of latitude to Deputies on this question. We cannot remain unduly long on any one question.
I understood that our policy was for a total ban on trade with South Africa but we did not want to do so on a unilateral basis. Is that correct? Will we be pursuing within the EC a total ban on trade with South Africa?
The Deputy misunderstood what I said. What I said was that I am not sure exactly what status that proposal has in EPC or in the Community at present but I will let the Deputy know.
We are in favour of the ban on trade?
Yes.