asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Taoiseach's proposal for an all-party conference was discussed at the recent meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - All-Party Conference Proposal.
44.
This matter was not discussed at last Friday's Anglo-Irish intergovermental conference.
Can I ask the Taoiseach what exactly has taken place in relation to an all-party conference. A number of commentators have referred to this and if the Taoiseach looks at Question No. 29 in my name he will see that there is at least some confusion in the media about whether documents were exchanged with the Official Unionist Party. The Official Unionist leader said he had not received any documents; yet a spokesman for the Government is alleged to have said that a document was sent. I hope the Taoiseach will avail of this opportunity to clear up that misunderstanding and also tell us precisely what he has done about getting this all-party conference off the ground — whether he has approached the British Government, individual leaders or parties in the North of Ireland or spoken to any parties here?
I am glad to be able to confirm that what was said by the leader of the Official Unionist Party is correct. No documents have been exchanged. With regard to an all-party conference, there has been no progress in relation to that at this stage. My preference would be for dialogue and discussion with the Unionist leaders that I have invited.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that, if we were to judge by the public response of those Unionist leaders, the likelihood of that are at best remote? Has the Taoiseach taken any steps to approach them privately to find out if there is a possibility of even having informal discussions with them at another location? I think the Taoiseach would agree that too much expectation has been built into what has happened between him and the Unionist Party and that the ordinary work on behalf of the Nationalists in the North of Ireland has been ignored in the meantime?
I fully agree that the work for the Secretariat and the conference must proceed but on the other hand I want to leave my invitation very definitely on the table. At this stage I would not rule out the prospects of some progress being made in that regard.
Am I correct in saying that the invitation was issued verbally by the Taoiseach on a public occasion but that it has not been conveyed in an envelope or any other way to the people involved?
I do not want to go into the stationery aspects of it but I think the Deputy knows full well that there are many points of contact.
Are these being availed of?
Yes.
That disposes of questions, both ordinary and priority, for today.