N Korea is off… officially, at least
THERE will be no Government trip to North Korea, the Taoiseach has said.
It comes after jibes were made in the Dáil yesterday about Independent Alliance Minister John Halligan’s declaration last week that he would like to travel to the troubled country.
Fianna Fáil’s Willie O’Dea said that the ‘world is waiting’ to find out whether the Independent Alliance would make the trip.
Junior Enterprise Minister Mr Halligan wrote to the North Korean embassy in London seeking permission for a parliamentary visit by himself and his Independent Alliance colleagues Transport Minister Shane Ross and Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath.
Mr O’Dea said yesterday: ‘The foreign policy section of the programme for Government is grandly titled “Ireland and the world” and contains the following phrase, “We must articulate ourselves on the world stage, contribute to peacebuilding initiatives across the globe...” Did this statement trigger the recent proposed expedition to North Korea?’
‘Will the Taoiseach provide the House with an updated position on this expedition because the world is waiting,’ asked Mr O’Dea.
Labour leader Brendan Howlin joked: ‘The ministers are getting their jabs as we speak.’
However, Leo Varadkar was categorical in his response saying: ‘There will be no Government mission to North Korea.’
However he added: ‘Having said that, members of the House are free to travel anywhere they like in their own capacity and at their own expense.’
When Mr Ross was asked yesterday if the proposed trip would go ahead, he replied: ‘I have already said, on several occasions, that I am not going to go anywhere which is against Government policy.’
Mr Halligan, who first told the Irish Daily Mail of his plans, said last week: ‘There are plans. We have already made contact with the North Korean embassy. It’s not definite, but we would hope to go in January or February.’
His Cabinet colleague Mr McGrath told the Mail last week: ‘It would be a one-item agenda, and that is nuclear disarmament. If you’re going there, you would have to meet the main man.’