§ Q4. Mr. Roseasked the Prime Minister when he is to have his next meeting with the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing at present to add to what I said in reply to Questions from my hon. Friends the Members for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) and Bristol, North-East (Mr. Dobson) on 12th December.—[Vol. 775, c. 579–82.]
§ Mr. RoseIs my right hon. Friend aware that the patient, firm and principled way in which he handled the meetings with Captain O'Neill has earned him the gratitude of all those who have been concerned about Northern Ireland? In the improved at mosphere following the courageous stand of Captain O'Neill, will my right hon. Friend continue to press equally as firmly for full implementation of equality in civil rights and electoral law in Northern Ireland?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is a mark of what has happened over the past two or three weeks and of the tribute which I said last week I thought the whole House would wish to pay to the courage and firmness shown, that my hon. Friend, who has been very active in these matters, should associate himself with that tribute to Captain O'Neill.
As I made clear last week, we put a number of propositions to Captain O'Neill. He went a considerable way to meet them, but everything that has now happened only underlines the need for still more rapid progress, particularly in relation to the one subject which was not dealt with in his communications with me and his public announcements.
§ Sir D. RentonWould it not be timely if the Prime Minister were to pay a wholehearted tribute to Captain O'Neill—[HON. MEMBERS: "He did."]—for the enlightened and progressive approach which he has shown to the problems of Northern Ireland?
§ The Prime MinisterI am sure that the right hon. and learned Gentleman recalls that I did just that a week ago, and I knew that I was speaking for the whole House. At that time, it was qualified by the concern I expressed on behalf of the House that in the difficult situation he was facing last Thursday, other views might be taken on the other side of the Irish Sea. On many occasions I have paid a strong tribute to Captain O'Neill, but I add to anything which I said 1559 before the admiration of all of us for the response to what we put to him when he met the Home Secretary and myself a few weeks ago.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkIs the Prime Minister aware that the Northern Ireland Government are carrying out plenty of reforms of their own, and would it not be wise and timely if this House were now to leave them alone to get on with that which they are fully entitled to do without let or hindrance?
§ The Prime MinisterThere is no doubt, as I have repeatedly emphasised to Captain O'Neill and to the House, that the reforms which have been called for are under the law and the convention within the jurisdiction of the Northern Ireland Government. But the hon. Gentleman must form his own view, as I know my hon. Friends will, about whether they would have moved so rapidly or whether they would have done what has been done but for the acute concern expressed in many quarters of this House about the fact that these things were not being done with the required speed until a few weeks ago.