HC Deb 02 May 1991 vol 190 cc417-8
3. Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had recently with the Government of the Irish Republic regarding the removal of articles 2 and 3 from the constitution of the Republic.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Peter Brooke)

This is a matter which I would expect to arise during the talks upon which we have now embarked.

Mr. Ross

The right hon. Gentleman can be reassured that the Unionist parties at least will raise the matter, even if the other parties do not. Does not his reply signify clearly that no request to remove those obnoxious articles from its constitution has ever been formally made to the Irish Republic? Will he confirm that removal of those articles was held out as a carrot in the early stages of the consultations about the Anglo-Irish Agreement but was soon lost in the mists when the agreement was signed, regardless of what the Republic wanted? Surely it is time that those obnoxious articles were removed once and for all.

Mr. Brooke

The hon. Gentleman asks me about my conversations. I have said before in the House that I do not believe that the territorial claim in the Irish constitution is helpful. The hon. Gentleman would be surprised if, subsequent to my observation, others had not disagreed with me on occasions when the Irish Government and I met.

Mr. Peter Robinson

Has the Secretary of State heard or read the remarks about articles 2 and 3 of the constitution of the Irish Republic made by a Minister in the Government of the Irish Republic, Mr. Desmond O'Malley? Did the right hon. Gentleman find those words useful? Would he encourage other members of that Government to reach the same conclusion? When the Secretary of State next meets that Government, will he take that stand?

Mr. Brooke

One of the virtues of the talks on which we are about to engage, is that they embrace not only the main constitutional parties in Northern Ireland but the Government of the Republic, whose delegation will be made up of more than one party. Any number of different strands of opinion will be brought to our discussions. I shall be surprised if any issue that anyone has ever regarded as relevant to this subject is not aired at some stage in our proceedings.