§ 73. Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what respects the wording of the Dublin version of the Anglo-Irish agreement differs from the London version, and why; and which text is authoritative.
§ Mr. EggarIn accordance with standard international practice, precedence is given to the United Kingdom in the original retained in London and to the Republic of Ireland in the original retained in Dublin. In addition, and in line with long established precedent in bilateral treaties with the Republic, each country's original of the agreement uses its own nomenclature in reference to itself and to the other country. There are no substantive differences between the texts, both originals of which are authoritative.