asked the Taoiseach when he proposes to meet the new British Prime Minister.

2.

asked the Taoiseach whether the subject matter of the Tánaiste's May 3 speech urging the new British Government to address itself to the Northern problem, would be the subject of discussion at any meeting arranged with the new British Prime Minister.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

I shall be visiting London tomorrow to fulfil a long-standing private engagement and will pay a courtesy call on the Prime Minister. Northern Ireland will be among the subjects touched upon in our discussion which will of necessity be of short duration.

Arising out of the Tánaiste's reply on behalf of the Taoiseach, will the meeting which will be of short duration refer to the subject of the Tánaiste's own speech on 3 May or is that to be reserved to a later meeting?

That is not a relevant question.

Arising out of the Tánaiste's reply in relation to the second question which refers to a meeting to discuss the subject matter of the Tánaiste's own speech, am I to understand that such a meeting is visualised to discuss Northern Ireland and will it include the interpretation of majority Northern Ireland opinion referred to in the Tánaiste's own speech?

I have already replied to Question No. 2.

This is a supplementary question.

It is the same question.

There is a particular interpretation given by the Tánaiste in his speech of 3 May of "majority Northern Ireland opinion". Is that the substantive view of the Government of majority Northern Ireland opinion?

In so far as the Deputy is asking me about the speech it is simply a reiteration of Government policy which has been outlined on a number of occasions by the Taoiseach.

I simply wish to say that I welcome this early, even if brief, contact between the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister and hope that it can lead to substantive discussion at an early date.

I had intended to rise to congratulate the Tánaiste on his speech of 3 May but now I am not too sure.

Let us have the question, please.