Michael Ferris
Ceist:10 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Defence if he has any plans to visit the headquarters of either NATO or the Warsaw Pact in 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Visits to NATO/Warsaw Pact Headquarters.
I have no plans to visit the headquarters of either NATO or the Warsaw Pact in 1990.
In view of the reported statement of the Taoiseach yesterday, that he regarded NATO at one end of the spectrum and Irish neutrality at the other end, and in view of the wide-ranging cosmic scope of the Irish Presidency, can we be assured that there will be no compromising visits to NATO by the Minister for Defence, the Taoiseach or the President of all the Europeans?
Clearly the Deputy is extending the scope of his question which merely asks whether the Minister has any plans to visit the headquarters of either NATO or the Warsaw Pact.
The answer is "no".
May I be assured here — in relation to the actions of the Minister for Defence during the Irish Presidency — that no visits to NATO or no compromising statements in relation to Irish neutrality will be made either by the Minister for Defence or by the Taoiseach within the scope of our Presidency of the EC?
The answer is "no" right through because NATO is irrelevant to the Presidency of the EC, as is any aspect of defence alliance.
May I take it that the emphatic "no" reply of the Minister applies equally to any Minister of State or any other ministerial representative within the Minister's Department?
Yes, there is no question about that.