John Bruton
Ceist:1 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach whether members of the Government should meet the president or other representatives of Provisional Sinn Féin.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Policy on Contacts with Representatives of Sinn Féin.
Successive Governments have taken the view that contact with representatives of Sinn Féin would be conditional on a definitive rejection of violence as a means of achieving political objectives. This remains the position.
Does this policy of no contact with Sinn Féin extend to the nonattendance of Government Ministers at functions at which it is known in advance they are liable to meet representatives of Provisional Sinn Féin?
It is the continued practice and policy that no Government Minister invites any representatives of Provisional Sinn Féin to any function. The Deputy will be well aware that it may not be possible for Ministers who attend a function at the invitation of a host to know in advance who else will be in attendance.
If the Government is consulted in advance about the guests invited to a function at which a Minister will attend is it made clear that the Government policy is one of no contact with Provisional Sinn Féin?
I have indicated to the House that it is the policy of the Government that contact with representatives of Sinn Féin will be conditional on a definitive rejection of violence as a means of achieving political objectives. That remains our position.
It is patently clear from what the Taoiseach has said that there should be no contact with Provisional Sinn Féin by anybody who follows the Government's advice.