Michael Noonan
Ceist:1 Mr. Noonan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to Scotland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18363/01]
Ceisteanna–Questions. - Official Engagements.
On a point of order, may I ask when the questions tabled to the Taoiseach will be taken?
That is not a point of order. The Deputy should resume his seat.
It is very important.
It is not a point of order and the Deputy should resume his seat.
I want to ask if the questions will be taken—
It is not a point of order. I call the Taoiseach on Question No. 1.
I am trying to find out—
The Deputy should resume his seat.
I want to know if the questions about the giving of the airports will be answered.
It is not a point of order. We must proceed with the business. I ask the Deputy to resume his seat.
I am raising the matter because a similar situation arose in 1991. We should be told whether under the Constitution—
The Deputy is out of order and he knows it.
I am trying to ensure the Constitution is applied.
If the Deputy does not resume his seat, I will ask him to leave the House.
I am not trying to be disorderly.
The Deputy is being disorderly.
I am trying to ensure the Constitution is upheld.
I ask the Deputy to leave the House.
I do not want to be disorderly. I just want to ask—
I move: "That Deputy Trevor Sargent be suspended from the service of the Dáil."
I do not want to leave the House, but I want to know if the Constitution is being upheld in this House.
Question put.
Deputies:
Vótáil.
In accordance with Standing Orders, the division will take place tomorrow morning at the beginning of business. In the meantime the Deputy must leave the House.
It is disgraceful. This House is a shambles. The Constitution is being flouted.
The Deputy must leave the House.
The Deputy has been here long enough; he should know the procedure.
I call the Taoiseach on Question No. 1.
I travelled to Scotland on 20 June for a one day official visit, which included engagements in both Edinburgh and Glasgow. During the visit I met the First Minister, Henry McLeish, and the Secretary of State for Scotland, Helen Liddel, as well as the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, John Reid.
I had the honour of being among the first non-Scots to address the Scottish Parliament. My address to the session with a very full attendance of Members and the public focused on the rich history of cultural and social links between Ireland and Scotland and the opportunities now emerging significantly to enhance our relationship in the context of devolution and the institutional arrangements of the Good Friday Agreement.
In Glasgow I gave a keynote address at the economic seminar, "Ireland and Scotland: Busi ness Partners in the 21st Century", which highlighted the trade links between the two countries and showcased a number of successful businesses working in both markets. This seminar, which was attended by about 400 business people, was also addressed by the First Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland. In my address I stressed that while we greatly value the historical links between the two countries, our primary focus is on building the relationship between today's Ireland and today's Scotland.
After this event the deputy chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland, Sir Angus Grossart, announced the repatriation to Ireland of a major painting of Daniel O'Connell by the renowned Scottish artist, David Wilkie. Earlier in the day I opened a new branch of the Bank of Ireland in Edinburgh at a function which was also addressed by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
Later in the afternoon I unveiled a memorial in Carfin dedicated to the remembrance of all those forced to leave Ireland during the Great Famine. On the way to Carfin I called in at the offices of the archdiocese of Glasgow to pay my respects to the late Cardinal Winning who was lying in state there. The ceremony at Carfin was attended by a wide range of political leaders and representatives in Scotland and by church leaders, including a representative of the Church of Scotland. His expressions of regret at the reception in Scotland sometimes afforded to Irish immigrants of the famine era and also at later sectarianism were appreciated by those present, including a large number of the public of Irish descent. The event at Carfin was followed by a civic reception in Motherwell hosted by the North Lanarkshire Council.
The visit proved successful. In the light of the discussions which took place during my visit I look forward to a significant strengthening of the relationship between Ireland and Scotland.
In view of the fact that Ireland is now represented diplomatically in Edinburgh to what extent is it the policy of the Government to pursue a separate foreign policy with the devolved administration in Scotland? How is this policy delineated by our traditional links with the United Kingdom?
In the past few years since devolution our consulates in Cardiff and Edinburgh are dealing on a day-to-day basis with both the Assembly and the Parliament. That gives us a new opportunity in both Scotland and Wales which we did not have previously. As regards foreign policy issues, we still look to Westminster, but deal exclusively with the areas within the devolved powers. As regards business and education issues and social and economic policy, the focus is now back on Scotland and Wales and that is working well. It does not create difficulties. If we moved on foreign policy issues, that would be seen in a different light. As the Deputy knows, I was in Wales on St. David's Day and in Scotland on 20 June. The view of Westminster is that it is happy with the devolution arrangements. However, foreign policy issues are still dealt with by No. 10.
The Taoiseach is telling the House that the Government is not pursuing a separate foreign policy initiative in respect of the devolved Assemblies in Scotland and Wales and that foreign policy is being conducted exclusively through London for the whole of the United Kingdom.
That is because it is not a devolved function and, therefore, not something within the remit of either area. That is the way they wish it to operate. It does not create any difficulties. Both the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament are anxious that we build and operate new relationships. The Secretaries of State take a close interest in any visits and interaction between us and them. While I am pointing out the functional basis, it does not create a difficulty.
It is reported that at his meeting with the Scottish First Minister, Mr. McLeish, the Taoiseach expressed support for a joint bid between Ireland and Scotland for the European soccer championships in 2012, but that this was contingent on the provision of a national stadium here. Is this still the Taoiseach's position?
There are two aspects to this. First, the Scottish Football Association is bidding on its own and if it succeeds in convincing UEFA of the merits of that bid, the joint bid would not arise. The SFA is still pursuing that bid, which is for 2008, but if it does not succeed then the association would be interested in pursuing a joint bid with Ireland. Second, I would certainly be in favour of that but in present circumstances we could not host such a tournament. Unfortunately, the Football Association of Ireland does not have a ground that can hold any more than 15,000 people.
As regards the second part of my supplementary question, is it the Taoiseach's intention to go ahead with the national stadium?
We are talking about the Taoiseach's visit to Scotland, Deputy.
We are, but in his conversation with the Scottish First Minister, the Taoiseach agreed to put forward a joint proposal with Scotland to host the European soccer championships in 2012. The Taoiseach went on to say this would only be possible if we had the national stadium facilities. Therefore, it is absolutely in order for me to ask whether it is still the Taoiseach's position that the national stadium—
It is not in order. It is a separate question. In his reply, the Taoiseach just made a passing reference to that. That does not give rise to a direct supplementary question relating to a matter that is not near the central matter of the question.
In his discussions with Mr.
McLeish, the Taoiseach was aware that we did not have, at present, the facilities to host such a championship. Is he confident we will have the facilities by 2012?
I hope so. If we do not have it by 2012, God save Ireland.
The Taoiseach is straying into his speech for the State funeral.
The Taoiseach did not declare whether he is for Rangers or Celtic.
They have moved on from that.