§ 20. Mr. Duffyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he will make a statement on his meeting with Dr. Patrick Hillery, the Irish Republican Minister of Foreign Affairs, in London on 27th April.
§ Mr. GodberI have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, South 24 (Mr. Pounder) on 8th May.—[Vol. 836, c. 266.]
§ Mr. DuffyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that since the Foreign Secretary's meeting with the Irish Foreign Minister, Mr. Lynch has set up an all-party committee on constitutional change and that hon. Members of good will look confidently to him for further constructive measures? On the other hand, may I ask the Minister to say what steps the Foreign Secretary has indicated Her Majesty's Government would be prepared to take to lessen disunity in the whole of Ireland?
§ Mr. GodberThat is a very large topic to discuss by way of question and answer. Our position is clearly that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and forms an integral part of it. Any question of change would be a major matter of policy which I could neither discuss nor consider replying to at Question Time.
§ Mr. McMasterWill my right hon. Friend make known to the Southern Irish Government that repeated unfriendly statements indicating their continued desire to effect the accession of part of the territory of the United Kingdom, namely Ulster, against the will of the majority can do nothing but harm in the present situation?
§ Mr. GodberYes, statements of that kind do nothing but harm; but, on the other hand, the Government of the Republic are seeking to try to help in such ways as they can with regard to some very difficult problems at present. I would wish to say nothing to exacerbate those problems still further.