§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how frequently the United Kingdom Government's representative at Stormont has visited Ministers and officials of the Government of the Republic of Eire since the first appointment of a representative was made; and what was the purpose of these visits;
(2) who authorised the journeys to Dublin made by the representative of the United Kingdom Government at Stormont; whether an authorisation was obtained for each visit, how this authorisation was obtained and by whom it was granted; and to what extent the authorisation was explicit as to the person or 302W persons whom the representative was to see;
(3) if he will list those persons whom the representative of the United Kingdom Government saw on his visits to the Republic of Ireland.
§ Mr. SharplesIt is customary for visits to be made between representatives of Her Majesty's Government in neighbouring countries, when the opportunity may be taken to meet leaders of the local community. The United Kingdom Representatives in Northern Ireland have paid such visits to H.M. Ambassador in Dublin, but it would not accord with practice to give further details of those informal occasions.