British Policy on Northern Ireland’s Status
Blaney questions whether Britain’s commitment to remain while the Northern majority wishes it means it will stay indefinitely, and urges a British declaration favouring unity. The Taoiseach says this is inherent in his earlier answer, which Blaney endorses.
Might I ask the Taoiseach whether in fact it is his view that the continued statement by successive British Governments to the effect that they would stay in Ireland so long as the majority in the Six Counties want them to, means that they are saying that they will stay until Tib's Eve? Further, is it in keeping with what the Taoiseach has been saying in reply to various questions here that it would be very helpful if the British Government were to indicate, without conditions, that they themselves would wish for the unity of this country — in other words, that they would stop giving assurances and would declare their wish for unity? Until then, there is no possibility of talking to the very people to whom we wish to talk.
