Would the Tánaiste not agree that it is absolutely nonsensical to try to tell this House that the statement that he made is in line with Government policy as Government policy has been understood up to now? Would he not agree that the statement on his part that the next step in an attempt to reach a political solution to the problems of Northern Ireland is a matter for the Unionist politicians and not for the British and Irish Governments? Would the Tánaiste not agree that that statement is a complete abdication of the Anglo-Irish Agreement and everything it is intended to bring about and everything that the two Governments are working for? Would the Tánaiste not further agree——

I ask for brevity again, please.

Would the Tanáiste not further agree that while it is perfectly reasonable to say in this House that the dates of any meeting the Taoiseach might have with the British Prime Minister would be announced closer to the date, it is perfectly valid and proper for this House to ask whether the Taoiseach or the Government——

I am afraid this is tending towards debate rather than questions.

A Cheann Comhairle, this question has not been asked.

You cannot debate this matter now. I am not permitting it to be debated.

The Tánaiste has not answered the question whether this Government have any proposals to make in the context of the review of the working of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Could the Tánaiste tell us whether the Government have any ideas or proposals?

To clear the record, I do not know where Deputy Barry got that particular statement.

The Tánaiste quoted from it himself. He made a speech on it in San Francisco.

Please, let us hear the Tánaiste. Deputy Dukes has asked some questions. He should now listen to the reply.

I propose to give the exact quote of my recent remarks at the United Nations on this area that we are talking about. I will be very brief. All of us on the island of Ireland, no matter how our visions of the future differ, have a common responsibility to work towards solutions in a spirit of mutual understanding and respect. Let us as political leaders begin to talk together in an open and generous way. We owe no less to our people who so desperately yearn for a lasting peace. That is the definitive position to which in my view——

That is not the one I am quoting from.

That is the correct one. What the Deputy is quoting from——

Will the Tánaiste now agree that the correct one is the one that he gave under all the blessings required in the United Nations and that what he said elsewhere was a total top of the head abdication of the futility of consistency?

The Deputy is doing himself less than justice.

I am calling Deputy Geraldine Kennedy.

I am doing the Tánaiste more than justice. The Tánaiste has now admitted that what he said outside the United Nations——

May I take it that Deputy Kennedy is giving way to Deputy Des O'Malley?

We both have questions on this matter.

I know that. I am calling Deputy Kennedy firstly. Her name appears here before me.