HC Deb 15 January 1981 vol 996 cc1126-7
2. Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he intends to hold further discussions with the Government of the Republic of Ireland following the Dublin meeting on 8 December.

Mr. Humphrey Atkins

Yes, Sir. My colleagues and I will be having further meetings with Ministers from the Republic from time to time.

Mr. Latham

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some Conservative Members, who have great good will for the Province and support the constitutional settlements of 1920 and 1949, nevertheless think that nothing but good will and goodness can come from regular contacts at the highest level with the Government of the Republic and hope that they will continue?

Mr. Atkins

I agree with my hon. Friend. There are a great many matters of common interest. It makes every kind of sense, and is to the benefit of the people of the Republic and the United Kingdom alike, that we should be on the best possible terms with our immediate neighbours.

Mr. Molyneaux

Does the Secretary of State agree that the Dublin Government ought to withdraw their claim to the territory of a part of the United Kingdom, grant effective extradition rights, and institute effective control of the frontier as essential preconditions for the establishment of normal friendly relations?

Mr. Atkins

All those are proper matters to be discussed between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Republic.

Mr. Peter Robinson

In the communiqué issued after the Dublin summit the words "totality of relationships" were used. Can the Secretary of State say whether the totality of relationships includes the constitutional relationship? If it does not, why was the word "totality" used? If it does, why have the Government broken their pledge?

Mr. Aitkins

The Government have broken no pledges. For the benefit of the hon. Gentleman I shall repeat that future government arrangements for Northern Ireland are a matter for the people of Northern Ireland and this House. Relationships in all their aspects between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, as two sovereign countries, are the totality of the relationships that we shall be discussing with the Government of the Republic.

Mr. Concannon

Is the Secretary of State aware that the Opposition welcome any discussions that take place between the two Governments, because we believe that there is quite a lot to be gained on both sides? I am not so much concerned about future discussions. I am still trying to find out what occurred during the last round of talks. Many of us are especially concerned about that and would like more information. The Opposition are concerned about the lack of information that has emerged about the last Dublin summit and would like to be assured that more information will come out of the next round of talks. If there is to be a meeting shortly, will the Government be at one with the Irish Government on the decision of the Irish rugby team to visit South Africa?

Mr. Atkins

I can do no better than refer the right hon. Gentleman to the communiqué that was issued at the end of the last meeting. As to future meetings, I am only too happy to report to the House, whenever appropriate, about discussions that I have with Ministers in the Republic, either about rugby football or about any other matter.