Vol. 421 No. 4
9 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if he will outline (a) the matters discussed during his meeting with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Major, during the course of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and (b) his assessment of the prospects for further progress in the Northern Ireland talks in the light of his discussions with Mr. Major; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
10 Mr. Spring asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his meeting with the British Prime Minister in Rio de Janeiro.
11 Mr. Spring asked the Taoiseach if he has any plans to meet the British Prime Minister at the forthcoming EC Summit in Lisbon; if so, if they will be discussing the current situation in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
12 Mr. Spring asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the current position in relation to the talks taking place in Northern Ireland.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 12 inclusive, together.
My meeting with the British Prime Minister in the margins of the UNCED Summit in Rio de Janeiro covered European Community issues, Northern Ireland, aspects of the UNCED Summit and issues of bilateral importance to both countries. The Prime Minister and I agreed to keep in touch and, if necessary, to meet again in the margins of the Lisbon Summit.
The Government have welcomed the convening of the meeting in London on Friday last of the parties concerned to discuss a possible agenda for Strand II of the political talks. The meeting went through its agenda and we stand ready to take a constructive part in continuing the process and in promoting a successful outcome to it.
I am very happy, as I am sure all Members are, that these talks continue to make some progress, slow as it is. Can the Taoiseach indicate the reason or the apparent reluctance on the part of the Irish Government to proceed with Strand III of this process? What obstacles are preventing that Strand taking place?
A meeting in preparation for Strand III is the subject of ongoing discussion between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the British authorities and I do not propose to comment any further on it at this stage.
In relation to Question No. 12 may I ask the Taoiseach if he is aware of the statement made in Bodenstown last Sunday by a senior member of Sinn Féin — I say this cautiously — which seems to indicate a major policy shift by Sinn Féin and if he is prepared to comment on it as a significant statement? Can the Taoiseach assure the House that the position is not as portrayed by Mr. Paisely in relation to the Irish Government being the party at fault in relation to Strand III?
The Deputy, and the House, can be assured that the Irish Government will not be responsible for any collapse in relation to Strand III. We will stand ready to contribute in every way we can to its successful outcome. Statements made by other party leaders who are participants in the talks, whether at Strand I, II or III, are matters for themselves. In relation to the statement made in Bodenstown last Sunday, one would hope it represents some significant change, I do not know; one would have to be extremely cautions. Certainly, we would all like to see the day when violence will be removed from society and that the bomb and the bullet would be buried forever in Irish politics and in Irish society.
