March 14 1974
The Secretary of State, Mr Merlyn Rees, yesterday joined party leaders at Stormont in welcoming the declaration by the Taoiseach, Mr Liam Cosgrave, that he recognises Northern Ireland’s status as being part of the United Kingdom.
In his statement to the Dáil yesterday morning, Mr Cosgrave said the government was aware that their Sunningdale declaration had been the subject of some controversy and that misconceptions had arisen in relation to it.
“The government were advised that as the declaration was the subject of legal proceedings, firstly in the High Court and later on appeal to the Supreme Court, it would not be proper for them to comment on the matters that had been raised until the issues ceased to be sub judice.
“The judgements in the Supreme Court have now been delivered and the government are glad of the opportunity which is thus afforded to them to clarify misunderstandings and correct certain misconceptions,” the taoiseach said.
All the parties at Sunningdale were fully aware of the divergent political attitudes represented there. “They were concerned, however, not to accentuate those divergences, but to find ways to bring about accord in this island,” he said.
“With this end in view, each government in making its declaration was concerned to assist in the process of reconciliation which the conference was endeavouring to promote.”
The Irish Government considered that they should concern themselves with the present and look to the future, instead of indulging in essentially arid and potentially divisive arguments as to the rights and wrongs of historic events now long past.
“The government therefore declared that there could be no change in the status of Northern Ireland until a majority of the people of Northern Ireland desired a change in the status,” said Mr Cosgrave. “The declaration was, of course, referring to the de facto status of Northern Ireland, that is to say the factual position, to which reference is made in recent judgements in the High Court and the Supreme Court. The factual position of Northern Ireland is that it is within the United Kingdom and my government accepts that as a fact.”