Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

The Deputy will not have to worry about the wine in that case. My praise applies to all our embassy staff. I have seen their work first hand. The current situation is different to that of 30 years ago. They are much more professional, incisive and fearless in the way they go about their business. Credit should be given where it is due. Those who have provided these services over the years should take a bow.

As the European Union expands, the diplomatic service will probably take on a different role in terms of, for example, Turkey's accession. The effects of diplomacy will be vital. The Mexican stand-off between Turkey and Cyprus is unhelpful and has to be resolved. The issue of the recognition of Cyprus will come to the forefront shortly. Negotiations cannot progress and, notwithstanding the accession of Cyprus, the two sides will be stalled unless these issues can be satisfactorily resolved. It will be important that productive diplomatic steps are taken and nothing is allowed to impede progress. A simple matter can give rise to problems which should not exist. I hope the powers of the diplomatic service can be effectively applied to that area.

Reference has been made to Iran, Iraq and the role of diplomacy before the recent war. It is never too late to call in the diplomatic service. It can play a vital and effective role. The difference between the present and 1939 is that the diplomatic services were abused by Adolf Hitler in order to accommodate his future plans. He managed to create the suggestions in the minds of diplomats that he had been wronged and had no intention of doing harm; he was misunderstood and if people had enough cop-on they would have known he had a few things to do and basically he was a nice guy.

That is an example of where diplomatic services were abused. We are all too young to remember when a certain British Prime Minister returned home from a diplomatic mission in central Europe and said there would be no war in our time. They were famous words but they did not mean anything. He had been walked up the plank and locked into something he could not get out of and had been outwitted. We know what happened afterwards.

I do not wish to incur the ire of the Chair by overstepping my diplomatic immunity here. I hope the Bill is before the House for a particular purpose. I would like to have seen specific instances of where the Bill would be effective. In my old age, anytime I do not see something on those lines I get suspicious.

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