§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Prime Minister if she will renew her general instruction to Government Departments and overseas missions that it is correct to describe the Republic of Ireland as such and that this term, and not Ireland, should normally be used; and whether she will now insist on compliance.
§ The Prime MinisterGovernment Departments and overseas missions are well aware that the forms "Republic of Ireland" or "Irish Republic" should now be used when describing that state. This is laid out in standing instructions to overseas posts, and similar advice was issued as recently as February 1985 to Government Departments.