Peter Barry
Ceist:3 Mr. Barry asked the Taoiseach if he issued the invitations to which he referred in December 1989 to the Northern Ireland Members of the European Parliament; and if so, the replies which he received.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Invitations to Northern Ireland MEPs.
As I said here on 5 December, I wrote to the three Northern Ireland Members of the European Parliament on 25 November last. It is not the practice, nor do I think it would be helpful, to give details of the kind sought by the Deputy.
On Question No. 1, may I offer the Taoiseach and, through him his Ministers on Question No. 1 a little advice? On long journeys they should not play poker with civil servants as they invariably win. That is my experience. On Question No. 3, may I also offer the Taoiseach a little advice? People who say that, generally are going to give it anyway.
Ceisteanna, a Theachta.
That, as I said at the time, was a good idea, but he spoilt it by going public. I think there will be an opportunity during the next five months — that is all that is left — to reopen that window but I implore the Taoiseach not to make the same mistake by doing so in public first. If he were to do so in private first, he would get a better response——
The Deputy is asking me here to give written replies in public.
I am asking that the invitation——
The Deputy's question asks me to give him details of the reply, but at the same time he advises me to do this discreetly in private. Which way does he want it?
I ask the Taoiseach to issue the invitation privately and make the response public.
The Deputy knows enough about this matter——
He should not issue the invitation and make that public.
On the contrary, a great deal goes on privately. All the actions I have taken in this regard were carefully considered as to whether they should be done in private or in public. The Deputy should know from experience that very often public statements are called for——
Issuing an invitation was nothing more than a stunt.
——not necessarily called for publicly, but some of the participants frequently indicate that it would be helpful if certain things were said publicly. The Deputy knows that.
Was that the——
Order, please, Deputy Currie has been offering.
May I suggest that the Taoiseach persevere with these matters because it is a very long time since there was as much hope for political progress in Northern Ireland as there is at present? Every opportunity should be taken to progress that as fully as possible.
Can we proceed to Question No. 4?