asked the Taoiseach if he intends having any contact with Northern Unionists prior to the next Anglo-Irish Summit meeting with the British Prime Minister.

23.

asked the Taoiseach whether he will be making any further policy statements prior to the next Anglo-Irish Summit meeting with the British Prime Minister.

I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 22 and 23 together.

As the date of the next Summit meeting has not yet been settled, it is not possible for me to indicate the statements or contacts I will be making in advance of it. The Deputy can be assured, however, that I will, from time to time as the need arises, take any action and maintain any contacts necessary to foster better understanding with all sections of the community in the North of Ireland.

Would the Taoiseach agree that he suffers an unfortunate reputation within Northern Ireland, especially among the Unionist population there? Would he agree that if his efforts to achieve better understanding between both parts of the country are to be successful, it would be advisable for him to make contact with representatives of the Unionist tradition in Northern Ireland?

Since I do not accept the initial premise, the rest of the question does not arise. There are a few places where the Deputy's own reputation is not great at present.

I think Deputy O'Leary got under somebody's skin there.

I am trying to deal with a matter which the Taoiseach regards as a priority for his Government.

So he said.

Does the Taoiseach accept the need for fresh contact to be made between him and representatives in Northern Ireland who disagree with him on policy on the Irish question? Would the Taoiseach agree that there devolves on him unilateral responsibility to make such contacts and not to await events and suggest that he is not interested in such contacts?

I never miss an opportunity of making such contacts.

Has the Taoiseach any such plans under consideration at present? Has he issued any invitations to meetings to such elements in Northern Ireland?

It is an on-going process.

What does "on-going process" mean? It is a form of mumbo jumbo.

I assume the Deputy is talking about contacts with individuals in Northern Ireland. This is something in which I constantly engage and will continue as the opportunity arises.

Would the Taoiseach not accept, as we discovered when we came into office, that such contacts had not continued on any serious basis during the four years prior to our period of office and that such contacts which had been made and developed among the Unionist community had been allowed to wither during those four years? Does he propose to let that happen again?

I do not accept that and I discovered when I assumed office that Deputy FitzGerald's policy in regard to Northern Ireland was nil.

Since the Taoiseach is prepared to talk about Ireland in the United States to people who are interested only on a particular day in the year, does he not consider it reasonable as leader of the nation at present that he should invite people of the other tradition to talk about a problem which, unless it is tackled now, will go on until such time as it will be impossible to resolve? Would he not consider extending invitations to groups of Northern Unionists to come and talk to him or indicate that he would accept an invitation from them to attend talks?

Yes.

A final supplementary.