Irish Republic (Foreign Minister) (Hansard, 12 June 1980)

§ 2. Mr. Parry
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to meet the Foreign Secretary of the Irish Republic.

§ 18. Mr. Flannery
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has 776 any plans to meet the Foreign Minister of the Irish Republic.

§ Mr. Humphrey Atkins
I have no immedate plans to do so.

§ Mr. Parry
When the Secretary of State next meets the Foreign Secretary of the Republic, will he discuss with him the land owned by the Gaelic Athletic Association which is being used by the British Forces as a helicopter base at Crossmagien?

§ Mr. Atkins
The last time that the Foreign Secretary of the Republic and I met we discussed that matter and I was able to give him a date when the Army will no longer require any of the land owned by the GAA.

§ Mr. Flannery
Does the Secretary of State accept that as I have said many times—though the Ulster Unionists seem to laugh at the idea—the solution to the problem of Northern Ireland is not a security solution, important as that is, but a political one? Is he aware that my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange (Mr. Parry) and I tabled our questions in order to ensure that discussions go on between the relevant parties in Northern Ireland and the Republic? In view of the many attempts that are being made to put forward new policies, can the right hon. Gentleman assure us that discussions will continue to find the ultimate political solution which will make the security solutions irrelevant?

§ Mr. Atkins
My business is to discuss with the political leaders in the Province ways of making the political advance that both they and the whole House desire. I do not accept that I ought to discuss those matters with Ministers of the Republic, though, as I have said in the House before, because they are such neighbours it is only prudent to keep them informed of what is happening.

§ Mr. Biggs-Davison
If view of certain remarks of Mr. Lenihan, are toe Government considering with the Government of the Republic the institution of machinery for the British Isles to further co-operation between the two States therein, without prejudice to the sovereignty of either?

§ Mr. Atkins
When the Taoiseach met my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 May, they agreed that there is a unique relationship between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. I have no doubt that they will be seeking ways of giving effect to the uniqueness of that arrangement. My primary concern is to discuss with the political leaders in the Province how we can make political advance in what is a part of the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Wm. Ross
What business is it of the Government of the Irish Republic where Her Majesty's Forces operate from within the United Kingdom?

§ Mr. Atkins
The question that I was asked concerned the GAA football pitch in Crossmaglen. It is the business of the Government of the Republic and the Ulster branch of the GAA what we do with that land.

Mr. J. Enoch Powell
What!

§ Mr. Atkins
Representations had been made to Ministers in the South who asked me what was happening. I told them what was happening. We are able to return to the GAA in Cross-maglen part of its territory that we have been using in recent months.