Question No. 6.

May I ask the Taoiseach——

I cannot allow a debate on the subject.

I just want to clarify one point the Taoiseach made.

The Taoiseach will then reply and that will be the end of it.

Did I understand the Taoiseach to say in relation to Article 1 and the renegotiation question asked by Deputy Kennedy that it has since emerged that the renegotiation of Article 1 was not possible? Did the Taoiseach use those words?

What I said in my reply is that it is an integral part of a binding international agreement and as such can only be amended by mutual agreement and the implications are quite clear that such mutual agreement would not be forthcoming.

Will the Taoiseach enlarge on that and tell us when this emerged? Has there been contact with the British Government about this? Have they refused to renegotiate or have any sort of discussion with the Government about this? When did it emerge that there is no possibility of any renegotiation?

The Deputy is as aware as I am that the position of the British Government on the matter has been clearly stated publicly on a number of occasions.

Has it been clearly stated privately or publicly to the Taoiseach since he assumed office?

There have been no discussions on this matter between the Irish Government and the British Government.

This is leading to argument.

Could I ask——

Is the position not precisely the same as it was on 9 March, that the Taoiseach's undertaking to renegotiate Article 1 still stands. Is not that clearly the position if the Taoiseach has not had any contact with the British Government since?

What the Deputy is saying is not clear.

It is not clear that nothing has happened since 10 March to change the position of what is now the Government party and that they still intend to renegotiate the agreement?

I do not agree. My reply to the House today is based on what has happened since then and on the clear indications by the British Government of their position on the matter.

Has this been conveyed privately or publicly——

I have already told you——

I am calling on Deputy Geraldine Kennedy who tabled the question for a final supplementary.

I want to clarify one area. Does this mean that as head of a Fianna Fáil Government the Taoiseach will be happy to leave the constitutional status of Northern Ireland as it is, given all the reservations the Taoiseach expressed about it since the Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed?

The doubts of this Government about the constitutional position remain. As I said in my reply we accept that it is a binding international agreement and it is the practice of Irish Governments to honour and operate international agreements concluded by their predecessors.