asked the Taoiseach if any Government initiative on Northern Ireland is intended in the light of the Queen's speech at the opening of the new Westminster Parliament.

When I met the British Prime Minister in London on 10 May we had a brief discussion on Northern Ireland in the course of which the Prime Minister indicated that she hoped her Government and herself would have time to become familiar with all aspects of the situation. We agreed that a further meeting could be envisaged for a suitable occasion in the future to discuss matters of common interest. That remains the position.

Is it not time the Government made their position quite clear on Northern Ireland? Does the Taoiseach not agree that Ministers calling for British withdrawal and Members of the House who were former members of that party saying there is no difference now between——

This is not the question on the Order Paper.

I am asking about an initiative on Northern Ireland.

That is not the question on the Order Paper. The Deputy might put down a question on those lines.

I would like your assistance to ask a very important question.

I am assisting the Deputy as much as possible.

Does the Taoiseach not consider it is about time for the Government to make their position clear on an initiative in relation to Northern Ireland?

The Government's position is perfectly clear.

What about the Tanaiste's speech in Kilmainham?

Question No. 3.

I do not see why you should be frustrating my efforts in trying to ask a very serious question. This is a very serious business.

Deputy Harte must know that it is not a question of whether it is serious or otherwise. It is a question of whether it is in order. The question relates to the Queen's speech and the Deputy is now proceeding to ask questions about Northern Ireland initiatives, which is not the question on the Order Paper.

It is the question on the Order Paper.

It is the question on the Order Paper. I am asking the Taoiseach if it is the Government's intention to take any initiative on Northern Ireland? With respect to you, I have heard debates here at Question Time on a group water scheme for Ballydehob. This is a very serious matter and I would like, with your permission, to pursue it. The Government are almost two years in office. They waited on a change of Government in Great Britain to see what would happen. Are we now to wait another two years before the Government will make up their minds and tell us what will happen?

Question No. 3.

I am sure the Deputy will agree with me that the initiative is required from the British Government. That initiative was not expected in the light of the uncertainty leading up to the British general election, which was anticipated in October and ultimately took place only a few weeks ago. The British Prime Minister indicated to me that she would like time for the Secretary of State in Northern Ireland, initially, and for herself, ultimately, to get a fuller knowledge of the whole situation. I thought that was a reasonable suggestion from her.

Is it not a very negative approach for the Taoiseach to say that he will wait on the British Government and the British Prime Minister to make up their minds, we will call on the British army to withdraw their guarantees to the Unionist community——

Question No. 3.

Will the Taoiseach be positive in his approach and tell us what the position of the Government is in relation to Northern Ireland?

We are not having a debate on Northern Ireland and the Deputy knows that.

Apparently we will never have a debate on Northern Ireland.

Will the Taoiseach agree that the kind of initiative required by the Government was spelled out by the Tánaiste on the day of the British general election?

Question No. 3.

Is that not the kind of initiative that is required of the Government, as spelled out by the Tánaiste on the day of the British General Election?

That is just an extension of the debate we have been having on this question. We could have innumerable questions if the Chair permitted them.

The Tánaiste made a speech calling publicly for a particular type of initiative.

Is this not the way in which the policy of this Government differs from that of their predecessors in this area, bearing in mind that during the Twentieth Dáil the Taoiseach repeatedly asked the then Taoiseach for an initiative on the North?

Is it not clear that the Government have not a policy on the North, that they do not know how to handle the North and that they are only making excuses?