asked the Taoiseach whether in the light of revised recent British estimates on cost of entry to EEC a similar reassessment has been made as to the costs involved should Ireland be accepted for full membership.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of EEC.
1.
I have seen recent speculative press reports on the likely effect of entry into the European Economic Community on Britain's balance of payments. No official detailed calculation of the effects of all the factors that would be operating on Britain's balance of payments in the first few years after entry has, however, been published recently. A firm assessment of the effect on the Irish balance of payments would depend on the terms which would be negotiated for our entry and also on the long-term arrangements to be made by the community for the financing of the common agricultural policy.
May I take it from the Taoiseach's reply that we have no idea what the ultimate cost of enry to the Common Market would be?
Yes, we have. We have been keeping in touch with that. We have published one White Paper. We have been keeping it under constant review and we feel that, overall, it will inure to our advantage.
We join first and then count the cost?
We negotiate first.
Has the Taoiseach any idea of the likely increase in the cost of living figure with the consequent increase in salary and wage demands and then the change in the competitive position which we now have in relation to industrial and agricultural goods following entry into the Common Market?
I could not give a specific answer to that question just now.