§ Mr. James Molyneaux (Antrim, South)(by private notice) asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the constitutional implications of the European Community decision to interfere in the internal affairs of Northern Ireland.
§ The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. James Prior)The Political Affairs Committee of the European Parliament decided yesterday to make a report on the situation in Northern Ireland on the basis of three motions for resolutions before it. No decision was taken on a fourth resolution in the name, inter alia, of the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley), nor has the Committee taken a decision about the appointment of a rapporteur. There is not yet, therefore, any clear indication of how the Committee will seek to take this forward.
The Government's view on this matter is clear. My hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) stated it in the House on Monday. The European Parliament has no business to discuss the internal political affairs of a member state. These resolutions, in so far as they cover such affairs, are therefore in our view not within the competence of the Parliament. Moreover, in June 1981 the European Parliament itself accepted that it had no competence to make proposals for changes in the constitution of Northern Ireland. It follows that any conclusion that the committee may reach can have no practical effect and the decision of the political affairs committee of the Parliament can have no constitutional implication for the United Kingdom. The Government were not in a position to prevent yesterday's decision, which we regret.
It remains the Government's wish to promote the greatest possible understanding of their policy in Northern Ireland amongst our partners in the EC, in the Parliament and elsewhere, but this decision will do nothing to advance such understanding.
§ Mr. MolyneauxMay we take it that in those cases where the Secretary of State, perhaps by a slip of the tongue, used the term "European Parliament" he meant "European assembly"?
In the light of the statement on the Government's position in the House last Monday and in the light of the Secretary of State's words this afternoon, can we take it that the Government will afford no facilities, no special protection, and no co-operation for these itinerant meddlers? Secondly, as the motions were sponsored by representatives of the Irish Republic, where stands now that which Dublin used to refer to as the unique relationship between these two nations?
Finally, will the Secretary of State take steps to increase security measures to counter the upsurge in killings which will result from this incitement to violence?
§ Mr. PriorI do not think that this is in an incitement to violence. I think that it is a meddling in other people's affairs, which will not help. That I make perfectly clear. I shall also make clear to the rapporteur the constitutional position of Northern Ireland if he were to decide to take the matter further.
The hon. Gentleman can call the European Parliament an assembly if he likes, but I shall call it a Parliament.
§ Mr. J. D. Concannon (Mansfield)Is the Secretary of State aware that the main thrust of his answer today is one with which we shall concur? Does the Secretary of State also know—I am sure that he does—that we have a policy for Northern Ireland which we are and shall be pursuing? We also have a policy for the EC and its assembly—not Parliament—and we shall be pursuing that. We agree that the matter in the private notice question is not one for the EC assembly but for the House. Therefore, we shall not co-operate with any inquiry into the internal affairs of this House by the EC assembly.
§ Mr. PriorI am grateful for what the right hon. Gentleman has said. I try to take every opportunity, as I believe do all hon. Members, to put forward the facts about Northern Ireland, and we should continue to do so.
§ Rev. Ian Paisley (Antrim, North)Is the Secretary of State aware that three resolutions before the political affairs committee of the European assembly yesterday were sponsored by the three main parties in the Dublin Parliament, which claims jurisdiction over Northern Ireland? Is he also aware that one of the resolutions stated clearly that the committee should word a resolution that would lead to a united Ireland? Is not that a constitutional matter and, as the Secretary of State has admitted that there is a violation of the treaty, are his Government prepared to go to the appropriate court in Europe and fight this matter so that Parliament's competence can be seen and declared?
§ Mr. PriorThe last point is a matter to which we must give consideration now, and we shall do so, but on the earlier points it is clear that the constitutional position of Northern Ireland could be discussed by the committee, and that we utterly reject, as I have already stated.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. This is an extension of Question Time, as the House well knows; I shall call one more hon. Member from either side.
§ Mr. A. J. Beith (Berwick-upon-Tweed)Does the Secretary of State agree that the objection to this proposal is not that the United Kingdom has anything to fear from a wider knowledge of the problems in Northern Ireland, still less that the committee has any power to do anything about it, but that by its activities it may make life a great deal more difficult for those who have to contend with the problems within Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. PriorI am grateful for that remark. It is the most extraordinary thing that nearly everything that happens about Northern Ireland makes it more difficult to solve the problem.
§ Mr. Humphrey Atkins (Spelthorne)Will my right hon. Friend use every means at his disposal to bring home to the MEPs who are contemplating this action the fact that any attempt at mischievous meddling in the affairs of Northern Ireland will do nothing whatever to solve the deep-seated problems of that province—
§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)Why did you set it up?
§ Mr. Atkins—and that if they attempt to hold meetings in Northern Ireland, the only achievement will be to put at risk the lives of innocent people?