YOU CAN ALWAYS RELY ON AUNTIE TO BEND THE NEWS TO SUIT ITS OWN AGENDA

Not for the first time, I am indebted to Cynical Highlander for  pointing me in the direction of information I'd have otherwise missed.

In the last post a letter form Nicola Sturgeon noted that she was off to Eire on a visit. While there she met with the Irish Minister for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton. After their meeting Ms Creighton gave an interview to the BBC, in which she appeared to give the impression that there was a difference of opinion between the Irish and Scottish governments, on Scotland's future within the EU.

The Irish Minister was clearly so concerned by the spin that the BBC had put on the interview that she emailed the Deputy First Minister today, and Nicola has published her communication (with Ms Creighton's permission).

Of course in diplomatic language a minister cannot say: "your state broadcasters are a bunch of lying *******s", but she did say that she was concerned that the interview wasn't giving the impression that she intended it to give.

I wonder what coverage the Minister for European Affairs' letter will get in BBC coverage. Not a great deal I suspect. 

I'm sure that Ms Creighton wouldn't object to the letter getting the biggest coverage possible, so if you have a blog and you want to put the letter on it...

Dear Nicola,

I want to thank you for a brief but informative meeting yesterday.  I am concerned that an interview which I conducted with the BBC is being misconstrued and wanted to assure you that it certainly was not my intention to interfere in any way with your domestic debate.

It certainly was not my intention to intervene in the Scottish debate about the future of your country.  As I stated clearly to the BBC (though perhaps they did not show it) this is a question exclusively for the Scottish people and I fully respect that fact. 

I was asked about the future of negotiations with the EU in the event that Scotland votes for independence.  I thought that my reply was largely in line with that of the Scottish Government.  I certainly did not at any stage suggest that Scotland could, should or would be thrown out of the EU.  Scottish people are clearly citizens of Europe. 

I did answer the question about hypothetical negotiations with the EU.  I think it is clear that a newly independent state would have to (and would have the right to and indeed should) negotiate the terms of membership, as they would undoubtedly be somewhat different to the existing terms.  I did say that this would take some time, which I expect it would.  I also went on to say that a newly independent Scotland would be welcome as an EU partner (and I think that applies to all EU member states including Ireland).

My understanding is that the Scottish Government has already committed to a negotiation with the EU between 2014 and 2016, if you vote for independence in 2014.  If my interview suggested something other than that, this was not my intention.  I think my comments have been misconstrued.  I sincerely regret this.

As SNP Westminster Leader, Angus Robertson said ‘Negotiations on the terms of membership would take place in the period between the referendum and the planned date of independence’, and that ‘The EU would adopt a simplified procedure for the negotiations, not the traditional procedure followed for the accession of non-member countries’.”

I think that sums up the situation quite well.

I hope that this clarifies my position, and again I regret that my words seem to have been presented or taken out of context.

Warm regards,

Lucinda Creighton