Did the Taoiseach raise with the British Prime Minister the very serious crisis which is developing in Northern Ireland if the Unionists opt out of local government and particularly if the planned series of strikes or lock-outs which they propose take place, and did the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister discuss any political initiatives to overcome that?

I appreciate that the practice is, after a brief informal meeting of that kind, to issue a brief statement and not to go beyond that subsequently. I am holding to that position. As that statement said, we are reviewing the work of the Anglo-Irish Agreement to which both of us are committed. Even in the limited time available, that review was fairly comprehensive.

Let me ask the Taoiseach, in the light of whatever discussions he had and bearing in mind the crisis which is developing, if he feels that the speech of the Minister for Foreign Affairs was helpful in the situation particularly as he is the man primarily responsible.

I note that this morning's Belfast Newsletter referred to the speech as having been helpful in clarifying a number of issues which have given cause for concern. I thought it a very interesting comment in that report.