Vol. 193 No. 1
asked the Taoiseach if in view of the widespread public concern about the military and political implications of Ireland's application to join the Common Market he will make a statement in the matter with particular reference to whether changes in the Constitution are contemplated.
23.
asked the Taoiseach whether, if Ireland joins the European Economic Community, it will be necessary to amend the Constitution; and, if so, in what form.
24.
asked the Taoiseach if he considers that in the event of Ireland joining (a) the European Economic Community or (b) the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation any alteration would need to be made in Articles 1, 5, 28 or any other relevant article of the Constitution.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 23 and 24 together.
As I have stated on a number of occasions in the Dáil the constitutional implications of membership of the European Economic Community have been under consideration. It is very difficult at this stage to be precise as to what these implications may be without fuller knowledge of how the provisions of the Rome Treaty must be implemented. It may possibly be necessary, however, to make some minor amendments to the Constitution so as to fit the Court of Justice of the European Community into our system of laws in cases where the interpretation of the Treaty is involved. The matter is still under study.
