HC Deb 15 February 1972 vol 831 cc240-1
Q3. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Prime Minister what recent communications he has had with the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic concerning Northern Ireland and the Irish Republican Army.

The Prime Minister

I am in touch as and when necessary with Mr. Lynch about matters of mutual concern. The Government of the Irish Republic are very well aware of our views on the rôle they should play in controlling the I.R.A. south of the Border.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Since the Border is the bone of contention, will the Government, while upholding the Northern Ireland Constitution, seek to take the Border out of Stormont politics and adopt my referendum Bill?

The Prime Minister

Many people are giving consideration to the question whether a referendum should be held and whether it should be held at regular intervals. But, as the question is about Mr. Lynch and the Irish Republic, I can only say that he has repeatedly said that he recognises that the unification of Ireland cannot be brought about speedily and that it cannot be brought about against the wishes of more than one million Protestants in Northern Ireland. He has made that clear.

Mr. Duffy

Yes, but if the right hon. Gentleman is considering periodic referenda on the reunification of Ireland, as is widely reported, he must couch it and present it in the most positive terms, with a view to promoting the necessary basis for change by consent. Otherwise it will be interpreted on one side as an evasion of responsibility on his part and may meet with a barren response.

The Prime Minister

The hon. Member is correct. That is why I mentioned, in answer to my hon. Friend, that many people are considering this matter—because a number of important aspects are involved. There are some south of the Border who would interpret this as meaning that it would never be possible to bring unification about, while others, north of the Border, would consider that a referendum was not such an effective measure in dealing with this problem as a parliamentary vote. That is why I said that one has to take all these points into account.