asked the Taoiseach the reason for his meeting on 3 February 1988 with Mr. John Hume and other SDLP MPs; the topics which were discussed at the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

As I said in reply to a question from the Deputy on 27 January I have meetings with representatives of the SDLP from time to time as part of the normal process of consultation on Government policy in relation to Northern Ireland. At our meeting on 3 February we had a very useful exchange of views on recent developments in Anglo-Irish relations.

Can the Taoiseach tell us whether the purpose of the meeting on 3 February was to brief John Hume and members of the SDLP on the Government's position at the Intergovernmental conference?

It was a normal type of meeting, the sort of meeting at which Ministers of the Government and I meet members of the SDLP leadership to exchange views and to update each other on our respective positions on current issues generally — no one particular issue.

Does the Taoiseach not consider that it is now time we got beyond this procedure and that the Taoiseach should consider holding similar discussions with other political parties and groups in Northern Ireland, in particular the main political party, the Unionist Party?

That is an extension of this question.

I am asking in relation to the type of discussions——

The question deals with the talks with Mr. John Hume.

I will be very glad to have a meeting with them at any time. In fact, I recently had a meeting with the new leader of the Alliance Party. I am always open to holding meetings which would offer any possibility of political progress but of course they would not have any bearing on a meeting with the SDLP. I mean they would not be mutually exclusive.

That is the point I am making, they should not be mutually exclusive.

I can assure the Deputy that they are not.

If there are ongoing discussions with one political party in Northern Ireland there should——

The Leader of the Alliance Party asked to see me and I responded immediately to the request. I would hope to respond favourably to any similar request from any responsible party in Northern Ireland.

Can the Taoiseach tell us whether he has ever issued an invitation to the leaders of the Unionist parties, or whether he has ever considered issuing an invitation to them to meet with him?

We are now going outside the scope of this question.

Not specifically, but I would hope it would be understood that such a meeting could take place at any time it was desirable.