asked the Taoiseach if the conditions of Ireland's entry to G.A.T.T. have been accepted by the other contracting parties to this organisation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Conditions of Entry to G.A.T.T.
1.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply given by me in this House on the 7th December last to a similar question. The second stage of the G.A.T.T. Tariff Conference referred to in that reply has not yet commenced—and present indications are that it will not commence until next month, at the earliest.
I think the Taoiseach has misunderstood my question. The question is as to whether the other contracting parties to G.A.T.T. are prepared to accept our terms of entry. The Taoiseach does not seem to have answered my question.
I informed the Deputy last December that preliminary discussions had taken place with the contracting parties as to the terms on which we might accede to G.A.T.T. and that these contracting parties had arranged for the continuance of the discussions during the second stage of the G.A.T.T. conference. I am now telling him that the Second Stage has not yet commenced and will not commence until next month at the earliest.
I thought it was commencing in January.