Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Jan 1994

Vol. 437 No. 7

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Peace Initiative.

Mary Harney

Ceist:

26 Miss Harney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Irish Government asked the US President, Mr. Bill Clinton, to intervene with the British Prime Minister to secure support for a peace initiative on Northern Ireland.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Irish Government have welcomed from the outset President Clinton's consistent interest and concern in relation to Northern Ireland.

In the course of my meeting with the President in Washington on 16 November, I explained to him the importance which the Government attached to the efforts which we were making with the British Government at that time to create a framework capable of delivering lasting peace, stability and reconciliation. I found him to be extremely supportive of these efforts and willing to make whatever contribution he could to assist them towards a successful conclusion.

Any contacts on this issue which may have taken place between the President and the British Prime Minister arose because of the President's own decision, and not at the behest of the Irish Government. The Government greatly appreciate the strong support which the President expressed for the Joint Declaration which the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister signed on 15 December 1993.