asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the principal topics which were under discussion during his recent meeting with the President of Roumania; if the meeting took place at his suggestion; and if any further meetings with him are under consideration.

The President of Roumania, Nicholae Ceausescu, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Elena Ceausescu, together with the Deputy Prime Minister of Roumania, Mr. Gheorghe Oprea, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Stefan Andrei, made an informal visit to Shannon on 11 April en route to the United States where President Ceausescu was making an official visit. In notifying us of the stop-over at Shannon the Roumanian authorities indicated that the President would welcome this opportunity to have an exchange of views on bilateral and international issues of mutual interest.

The topics which I discussed with the President included the Middle East and the promotion of efforts towards a negotiated settlement there in which President Ceausescu has played a personal role, the general situation in Europe in the wake of the Belgrade meeting to review the implementation of the Helsinki Final Act, and the forthcoming United Nations Special Session on Disarmament. We also discussed economic developments in both Roumania and Ireland, Roumanian relations with the EEC and the development of our bilateral relations.

No further meetings with the President are under consideration at the moment. However, the President indicated that he would be happy to invite me to visit Roumania at some convenient time. I cannot say at the moment when this might be feasible.

Details of the visit are contained in a Press release issued on the occasion, copies of which I have placed in the Library.