Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 May 1992

Vol. 420 No. 3

Written Answers. - Government of Ireland Act, 1920.

Peter Barry

Ceist:

23 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had a response from the British Government to his suggestion that the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, should be part of the discussions between Northern Ireland parties and the Irish Government.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

Under the terms agreed for the talks, which were set out in a statement delivered by the former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the House of Commons on 26 March 1991, it is open to each of the parties to raise — and I quote —"any aspect of these relationships, including constitutional issues, or any other matter which it considers relevant".

If the talks are to achieve their stated objective of "a new beginning for relationships within Northern Ireland, within the island of Ireland and between the peoples of these islands", it follows that the various constitutional arrangements which are relevant to these relationships should be open for discussion.

The Government have indicated on a number of occasions their view that, if Articles Two and Three of the Constitution are to be a subject of discussion in the political talks, it is both equitable and appropriate that the Government of Ireland Act (1920) should also be on the table for discussion.

The British Government are aware of the Government's intentions in relation to the Government of Ireland Act. Responding to a Parliamentary Question on 27 February last, the former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland recognized that each party was free to raise constitutional issues which it considered relevant. He noted, however, that the outcome of the talks would depend on securing agreement and that all concerned had accepted the principle that a change in the status of Northern Ireland would come about only by consent.