HC Deb 23 December 1982 vol 34 cc1055-6
6. Mr. Winnick

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to have discussions with the Irish Government regarding Northern Ireland matters.

8. Mr. McNally

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next plans a meeting with representatives of the Government of the Irish Republic.

10. Mr. Allan Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will meet the new Prime Minister of the Irish Republic in order to revive the proposal for an Anglo-Irish Council.

Mr. Prior

I have no immediate plans to meet members of the Irish Government, but I look forward to meetings in due course.

Mr. Winnick

Does the right hon. Gentleman accept the need for talks to take place with the new Irish Government in the near future? There is undoubtedly urgency about the matter. Is it intended that the two Prime Ministers should meet in the near future?

Mr. Prior

It is important that there should be talks between the two Governments. It is equally important that such talks be carried out in a frank manner. There should be no question of any behind-the-stairs talking, such as the right hon. Member for Down, South (Mr. Powell) has unjustly accused us of on previous occasions—

Mr. J. Enoch Powell

Well, why mention it?

Mr. Prior

The latter part of the hon. Gentleman's question is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, but we had better see how we get on with other talks before we reach that stage.

Mr. McNally

As one of the representatives of a town that has contributed in blood and young men who have gone to their graves long before their time, I wish the right hon. Gentleman well in his efforts in the new year. I hope that he will have talks with the new Irish Government. Will he look at the prospects of economic co-operation? Surely it is not sensible for Northern Ireland and the Republic to have a beggar-my-neighbour policy on economic development. Would not economic talks be worth while?

Mr. Prior

I fully understand what the hon. Gentleman said in the first part of his supplementary question, and I agree with what he said about the recent loss of life of members of the Cheshire Regiment in particular at Ballykelly.

With regard to the second part of his question, I think that economic talks are important. There is no reason why they should not continue. They have been going on in the past few months. They will continue, and I hope that in the new year we shall be able to move forward on several economic fronts which will be helpful to North and South.

Rev. Martin Smyth

Will the Minister, recognising that Northern Ireland provides the best market for the Republic, consider discussing a British-Irish Council rather than an Anglo-Irish Council, and perhaps encourage the Republic to come back into the fold?

Mr. Prior

I should always like to encourage anyone to join the fold, but it might be slightly unrealistic to expect early results. I agree that it should be a British-Irish Council, because it must include Scotland and Wales as well as England.

Rev. Ian Paisley

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that when he has talks with the new Irish Government he will put extradition on the agenda as a top priority? He will be aware that the recent McGlinchey case in Dublin gave some favourable pointers towards a change of attitude on that very vexed question.

Mr. Prior

The McGlinchey case is an encouraging development, but it is not for me to speculate on how it might affect other requests for extradition from the Republic. Meanwhile, we shall put extradition at the top of any agenda for discussions with the Republic, because we believe that it is vital.

Mr. Soley

Will the Secretary of State accept that many people, irrespective of their view of the future constitutional position of Northern Ireland, regard the talks as extremely important? We welcome the view that the talks should be open and frank. Can the Secretary of State give some indication that there will be talks in the fairly near future not only between Ministers but also perhaps at civil servant level?

Mr. Prior

Yes, there can be talks at Civil Service level and at ministerial level. I hope that over the next few weeks and months we can have talks at all levels and gradually make some progress. That is the intention of Her Majesty's Government.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The question by the hon. Member for Bootle (Mr. Roberts) has been answered, but he was not present to hear the answer, so I presume he does not want to ask a supplementary question.