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Dáil Éireann - Volume 458 - 28 November, 1995

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - US President's Itinerary.

1. Mr. D. Ahern asked the Taoiseach the proposals, if any, contained in the proposed itinerary of President Clinton for him to visit the Border area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17478/95]

The Taoiseach: The White House announced last week that the President's visit here will now be confined to Friday, 1 December 1995. The events planned for Dublin, which I indicated to the House on 14 November, will stand. These are: a meeting with the President at Áras an Uachtaráin; an address to both Houses of the Oireachtas; the conferring, by Dublin City Council, of the Freedom of the City; bilateral discussions with the Government and a Government dinner in honour of the President and Mrs. Clinton.

Given the curtailment of the President's programme, consideration of visits to other locations, was not possible. The President and his administration have of course demonstrated a clear commitment to the development [1578] of the Border areas through the US contribution to the International Fund for Ireland and the Washington Investment Conference held last May.

The Deputy will be aware from the White House statement that the President will also visit Belfast and Derry.

The President will depart Dublin for Germany on the morning of Saturday, 2 December.

Mr. D. Ahern: I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. Before the curtailment of the visit, was it envisaged that the President would come to the Border areas? A number of Border Deputies, particularly on this side of the House, have already raised this issue with the Taoiseach. Was there a suggestion from the Government that the President would come to the Border areas, particularly on the southern side of the Border, in view of the commitment by the Americans — as the Taoiseach has quite rightly pointed out — to the International Fund for Ireland, and also the Washington Investment Conference which related to the six Northern counties and the six southern Border counties?

The Taoiseach: As the Deputy is aware, the President will visit Derry which is virtually on the Border. As far as the southern side of the Border, is concerned, representations were received. I recollect in particular, a request from Deputy Andrew Boylan on that matter.

Mr. D. Ahern: He was not the only one.

The Taoiseach: The difficulty is quite simply that there are so many areas that the President would like to visit and would profit from visiting, but even at the maximum, the proposed visit was for no more than two days. As the President will visit Derry, which is on the Border, the suggested proposals for the other day included a visit to the midwest and the south-west. As the Deputy knows, that part of the programme has, [1579] unfortunately, had to be eliminated because of the totally understandable requirement of the President to visit Germany to assist in the important preparation for the successful implementation of the peace accords in Bosnia-Hercegovina.

An Ceann Comhairle: Before proceeding further, may I remind the House that only 30 minutes are available to Members for dealing with questions to the Taoiseach.

Mr. D. Ahern: Why did this Government lay so much emphasis on the President going to the south-west and not to the six southern Border counties? I can assure the Taoiseach — and he probably knows this as well as I do — that there are as good golf courses in the six Border counties as there are in the south-west.

The Taoiseach: The Deputy is being just a little petty in his remarks.

Dr. O'Hanlon: He is right.

The Taoiseach: We should appreciate that President Clinton, more than any of his predecessors, has shown a practical interest in Border areas.

Dr. O'Hanlon: What about your speech in Letterkenny?

The Taoiseach: He has been prepared to put American taxpayers' dollars to work in the Border areas and, in visiting Derry he is visiting the Border area.

Mr. D. Ahern: I am referring to the Taoiseach's emphasis, not the President's.

The Taoiseach: I hope the Deputy opposite will have an all-Ireland view of the Border.

Mr. D. Ahern: You did not appoint one Minister from the Border areas.

[1580] An Ceann Comhairle: We are now straying from the subject matter.

Mr. D. Ahern: It just shows the commitment.

Mr. B. Ahern: I join with the Taoiseach in expressing the hope that the people will turn out in strength to welcome and pay tribute to President Clinton for the great work he has done for this country. He has given it a great amount of attention, not just in the last week or so but throughout the past three years. On those public occasions he has gone to the trouble to make himself available for, in the short time he will be here. I hope he will receive a great welcome.

On a lighter note, my colleagues from the Border region inform me that the Clintons lived in the vicinity of County Louth. They tell me that two of George Washington's most famous generals were sons of a James Clinton who emigrated from Ardee in 1738. Perhaps that is why President Clinton always has so much to say about the Border region. He is probably the only person from outside the country who refers to the “southern counties of the Border region” and I appreciate that.

The Taoiseach: I share that view. My reseachers tend towards the view that he is probably one of the Clintons of Moynalty but that may not be true.

Mrs. O'Rourke: What about Athlone?

Mr. R. Burke: Could he be related to Deputy Andrew Boylan?

A Deputy: Not to forget Senator Donie Cassidy.

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