asked the Taoiseach if he raised the partition issue with the British Prime Minister on the occasion of his most recent meeting with him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

2.

asked the Taoiseach whether in the course of his recent discussions with the British Prime Minister regarding the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement he took the opportunity of referring to the present situation in the Six Counties.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

As my meeting on the 24th November, 1968, with the British Prime Minister was sought as a matter of urgency for the specific purpose of making known my deep concern about the recent British financial measures and to discuss certain other issues in relation to the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement, I did not raise any other matters in the course of that meeting.

May I inquire from the Parliamentary Secretary if it is proposed to raise this issue at the next meeting? Has the Parliamentary Secretary any further information on the subject?

I have no further information on the subject. I can assure the Deputy that the question of the partitioning of this country will be raised at every appropriate opportunity.

At election time.

This Government played no part in the partitioning of this country.

They stayed out of the Dáil.