Vol. 393 No. 6
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has any plans to visit East Berlin in light of recent momentous developments there to discuss with the East German Foreign Minister these developments and to see how best Ireland and the Irish Presidency of the EC can help in the transition to democracy.
39.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the Government's attitude to current developments in the German Democratic Republic; if he accepts that these developments may open possibilities of greater progress towards peace and disarmament throughout Europe; if he sees any role for Ireland, as a neutral country, in this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 39 together.
On Saturday last in Paris I joined with the other Heads of Government of the Twelve in welcoming the moves towards greater political and economic liberalisation that we can now see in some eastern European countries. It is in this spirit that Ireland welcomes and encourages the developments which are currently taking place in the German Democratic Republic. While there is still much to be done, we hope that these developments will result in the transformation of the GDR into a pluralist and fully democratic society.
We believe that the liberalisation we see in Poland and Hungary and the beginning of this process in the GDR can help to strengthen mutual confidence and so bring about an atmosphere that is conducive to disarmament, a goal we strongly support.
Ireland will contribute in every way possible, both individually and with our partners in the European Community, to help to bring about a return to democracy and the observance of human rights in eastern Europe and to assisting the countries that have embarked on the necessary changes. We will keep developments under review and should it appear useful in the light of these to visit the GDR, the Minister for Foreign Affairs will certainly be prepared to do so.
In view of his imminent Presidency of the EC, will the Taoiseach use that opportunity for special initiatives in this regard, particularly in the area of disarmament, the reduction of tensions and the end of the cold war in Europe at least?
The answer is, of course, "yes".
Is the Taoiseach's intention in that regard to endeavour to bring about the gradual dissolution of the Warsaw Pack and NATO in that context?
We are now having an extension of the question.
The President of the Community is not prevented from taking initiatives but he is, to a large extent particularly in sensitive areas, very much the servant of the Community, and in order to take any sort of major political initiative in a sensitive area he would have to be mandated to do so by the Community. A clear unanimous view was expressed at the Paris meeting that matters related to security and military matters should be dealt with through the existing alliances and that they were not appropriate for Community initiatives.
Might I take it, in the light of the Taoiseach's answer to this question about the importance of the visit by the Minister, Deputy Collins, to East Germany, that during the Irish Presidency it will be possible to discern what are Irish foreign policy initiatives and what are initiatives taken, as the Taoiseach has put it, as the servant of the Community?
That is a very wide question.
Where political co-operation is concerned this is a matter in which all Member States of the Community wish to have an input. In regard to major political developments in the world outside the Community, these can be pursued only through the political co-operation process. By and large, when we talk of Presidency initiatives they are usually related to internal Community matters. In relations with US, the Soviet Union or the Third World generally, it would be expected that initiatives would be first of all agreed between the Community through the political co-operation dialogue.
And some things being kept off the agendas.
I am not aware of any.
Would the Taoiseach agree that Ireland, being a neutral state in Europe, would have a pivotal and very commanding role to play in bringing about reconciliation between the Governments in the East and the West and that we should pursue particularly the Presidency in the EC to highlight the importance yet again of this nation as a neutral state and that a golden opportunity is being handed to him and he should make full use of his Presidency and his status of prime minister in a country like this one to reinforce the importance of our role as a neutral State?
Yes, we will be glad to do anything constructive and helpful we can in that regard. We have already taken a major initiative bilaterally with the Soviet Union to build up our relationships and be of all possible assistance to what is taking place in the Soviet Union and in regard to perestroika. We have had ongoing discussions with the Soviets as to how we can best be of assistance in that process. The Soviet Union have many requirements and difficulties to contend with in the economic area and it is possible that even as a small State we can make a very significant contribution in selected areas to help the Soviet Union over its current difficulties. We intend to do that. We can have the same sort of dialogue and relationship in process particularly with regard to Poland. As the European states emerge out of their present centralised systems and move towards democratic freedom we would, even as a member state, of our own accord be anxious to build up all possible helpful relationships on a bilateral basis. Again, of course, we can make a contribution in the Councils of the Community and we will do that and are already doing it, though that is hardly necessary because there is almost a universal wish among the member states in the Community to be of every possible assistance to the process taking place in a number of countries in Eastern Europe.
Question No. 10. I have dealt with this question rather over-long, have I not?
Would the Taoiseach agree that, important and all as the developments are in Eastern Europe — and the EC both as individual members and the Community should give every encouragement and help they can to that development — an enormous amount of work needs to be done inside the Community itself on the road towards integration and that is the biggest contribution the Community individually and collectively can make towards helping Eastern Europe?
I fully accept that. The Deputy will recall that when I was giving a report on the Paris Summit by way of answer to a question here I mentioned it specifically.
It is a hypothetical question maybe, because the agenda in that part of the world has changed so rapidly. If the question of German reunification comes up will there be an Irish view on it?
We have a very definite view on that and I think it is shared throughout the Community, namely that that is entirely a matter for the German people themselves to decide. On some other occasion I expressed a personal view, which I am sure will be shared in this House, that as a country which is itself divided we could not but have a sentimental, if nothing more than that, interest in German reunification. It is a political matter and we believe it must be left entirely for the German people to decide for themselves. The same principle would apply in regard to all the other countries in Eastern Europe.
Question No. 10.
I intend to answer Questions Nos. 10 and 37 together.
And not 18?
No. The mandarins in Foreign Affairs have indicated that I should take only 10 and 37 together, they who must be obeyed.
