Michael Brunson, ITN
Prime Minister, your little communique on your meeting with Dr. FitzGerald refers to progress on the dialogue. What progress is being made on that dialogue?
Prime Minister
We are trying, through talks, to see how we can achieve something in Northern Ireland which will be stable and lasting, within the present framework of the constitution, which could not be changed without the consent of the people in Northern Ireland; something that is not only good for the security of all people in Northern Ireland, but will get both communities, the nationalist and the unionist, working together in a much better way than now.
Michael Brunson, ITN
You have not then been discussing with Dr. FitzGerald this morning anything which in any way changes the sovereignty of Northern Ireland?
Prime Minister
No. Indeed, we cannot do that. That is guaranteed by [end p1] statute; that nothing would change in Northern Ireland as far as the constitution is concerned without the consent of the people of Northern Ireland and the consent of the Westminster Parliament.
Michael Brunson, ITN
So that anybody, including any Irish politician, who talks about the inevitability of Britain leaving Ireland is misguided?
Prime Minister
I would not accept that in any way. On the contrary, the people of Northern Ireland, by choice, are part of the United Kingdom. The majority of them wish to stay that way and so long as they wish it, that way they will stay.
Michael Brunson, ITN
Some people find it difficult though, Prime Minister, with your having ruled out three of the ideas put forward by the New Ireland Forum, what new ideas there could be?
Prime Minister
But you see, I think you will recall that those three ideas all involved some derogation from sovereignty. One of them, of course, was unification; the other was joint sovereignty; the other was joint authority. All impinged on sovereignty. Now that of course would go flatly contrary to our guarantee to the people of Northern Ireland that so long as they wished to remain part of the United Kingdom they will. [end p2]
Michael Brunson, ITN
This Council has certainly come up with some positive results. The block against Spain and Portugal's entry by Greece has been lifted this afternoon. Is a Community of twelve, though, going to work, given that a Community of ten had enormous difficulties?
Prime Minister
Well, this Community of ten in fact got most of its things done and through although it took a time. You will remember the difficulty we had with the financial arrangements, but they were got through at Fontainebleau; and now the difficulty that we have had with enlargement is nearly over. Of course, it has to go before our own parliaments, and I think that means that the Community can do its job.
Of course, there has to be a lot of discussion but isn't that what democracy is all about?
I think it would have been a very black day today if we had come to you and said we could not agree. As it is we have come to you and said: we have sorted our problems. Spain and Portugal will now be able to join subject again to our parliaments, so that is a good day.