asked the Minister for External Affairs whether any invitation has been extended to Ireland to send representatives to attend an international conference to discuss the formation of a Council of Europe and whether he is prepared to make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Council of Europe.
As the House is aware, the concept of a European union has been under consideration and discussion since shortly after the first world war. Numerous organisations were formed and varying proposals in support of this proposition were made since the conclusion of the second world war. The proposals made varied in degree from proposals for a closely-knit federation to proposals for the formation of a Council of Europe of a much more flexible nature. On the Continent of Europe, and particularly in France, since the proposal was first formulated in concrete form by the late Aristide Briand, there has been a strong movement among all parties in favour of this plan. It was felt that such a plan would make for a more enduring peace in Europe.
Our Government has kept in close and sympathetic touch with the recent development of these proposals. I took the opportunity of discussing, informally, these matters with individual foreign ministers of European countries in the last year.
A growing volume of opinion, not only in Europe but on the American Continent as well, sees in a steady pursuit of the ideal of European unity, in whatever form appears possible, the best, if not the only hope of ensuring the economic and political survival of this area of the world.
In the economic field, with the generous assistance of the United States, the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation has already achieved notable advances towards economic Co-operation. I have throughout attached considerable importance to the work of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation, as I felt that co-operation on the economic plane must precede any co-operation on the political plane. The proposed new Council of Europe is a first step toward this development, and, just as we have played our part in making the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation an effective instrument of European economic co-operation, so, I think, it is in the national interest and in the interest of world peace that Ireland should play a full rôle in this development.
Accordingly, when the views of the Irish Government were sought through the good offices of Monsieur Schuman, the Foreign Minister of France, I indicated that we should be glad to participate and co-operate fully in the formation of the Council of Europe. Subsequently, on the 7th of this month, I received a formal invitation from Mr. Bevin, the Foreign Secretary of Great Britain, inviting the Government of Ireland to be represented at a conference to be held in London towards the end of this month. The Government have decided to accept this invitation and I hope to attend the conference myself.
The invitation was issued by the British Government, as the "host" Government, on behalf of the Governments of Belgium, France, Luxemburg and the Netherlands. The other countries invited to the conference, in addition to Ireland and the countries named, are Denmark, Italy, Norway and Sweden. I hope and believe that these countries will be represented at the conference. The question of inviting other nations to participate will, no doubt, arise for consideration at this preliminary conference when the scope and degree of agreement possible will have been examined.
Proposals defining the functions of the suggested Council of Europe will be considered at the conference.
Two bodies are visualised: First, a committee of Ministers, consisting of one Minister from each of the participating countries, which would be empowered to discuss all questions of common concern, with the exception of matters relating to defence. The other, a consultative assembly, which would act in a deliberate capacity, and would make recommendations to the committee of Ministers. The latter body would have no legislative or constituent powers, and each Government would decide the procedure for appointing the representatives of its own country.
That is all that I can usefully say on the subject at this stage. In introducing the Estimates for my Department on the 20th July last (Official Reports, Volume 112, No. 5, columns 903-4) and in the Seanad on the 5th August last, I indicated my views generally on this matter. There are, of course, a number of points of detail to be considered, including the basis on which representation in the consultative assembly is to be distributed and the manner in which this country's delegates to it will be chosen. These and other points will, no doubt, be discussed at the forthcoming conference, and, of course, any convention or agreement which may result from the conference will come before the Dáil, in due course, for approval, when there will be an opportunity for a full discussion.
Mr. de Valera
I want to ask the Minister whether he agrees that it is highly desirable to give, in reply to a simple question, a statement of policy on which there is no opportunity for the Dáil to express its opinion.
No. I think it would probably be more preferable to have an opportunity to make a full statement, and I would have made a full statement on the matter to-day had there not been a question down. Inasmuch as a question had been put down by a member of the House, I felt that it would at least provide an opportunity for Deputies to consider the position.
On a point of order, is the length of the answer read out by the Minister to be taken as a precedent?
I have no control over the length of answers.
It is more than an ordinary answer to a Parliamentary Question.
Whether a statement of policy should be made on that is a matter for consideration.
Mr. de Valera
Is it not a question of the occasion on which this should be answered fully? I think the Minister will agree that an occasion to make a statement is highly desirable.