asked the Taoiseach whether it is proposed to amend the Constitution in any form.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Amendment of the Constitution.
32.
Apart from the examination of the question whether Ireland's membership of the European Economic Community might require any amendment of the Constitution, the Government have no proposals for the amendment of the Constitution under consideration at this time.
I take it from that reply that if the necessity to make amendments to the Constitution does arise, the Taoiseach will inform the House.
Certainly.
I would ask the Taoiseach to consider a supplementary matter arising out of the last question. Would he agree that in this country, having taken the decision to join the European Economic Community, two duties have to devolve on any patriotic opposition? One is to ask the questions which have to be asked in regard to this matter and the second is to forbear from harassing the Government with hypothetical questions, the replies to which must inevitably embarrass the Government, both at home and abroad. Having regard to those responsibilities of the Opposition, would the Taoiseach not consider the desirability of providing a most comprehensive White Paper setting out the situation as it is at the earliest convenient date so that the fullest information may be provided and so that a responsible Opposition may confine its questions to the Government only in so far as they deal with the information the Government has got?
I agree fully. It is my intention to keep the House provided with all the information which I can, while accepting, as the Deputy does, the undesirability of dealing with hypothetical questions relating to matters that may be the subject of discussion with the EEC. So far as the present position is concerned, the White Paper published last year dealt fairly fully with the mechanism and procedures of the Treaty of Rome. Nothing of any great import has developed in the meantime, except with regard to the agricultural position, which is, of course, of special significance to us. I am most anxious to get that information to the House and to the country as quickly as possible but the secretariat in Brussels seem to be engaged in a process of settling what has been decided and until that is clarified by the secretariat, it would be impossible to give an informative document to the House. As soon as we can get an authoritative statement of the decisions, my intention is to have them translated and circulated with some supplementary information relating to Irish conditions. With regard to the political implications, it is clear that nothing of any authority can be said until the Fouchet Committee has completed its deliberations.
As it is desirable that there should be an all-Party approach to these problems, might I suggest that if statements of substance relating to Government policy, whether relating to foreign affairs or finance, require to be made, they should be made in Dáil Éireann and not at meetings of Fianna Fáil Cumainn or other bodies throughout the country, with the result that the wildest speculation will spread abroad without any discussion in Dáil Éireann.
I do not accept at all the basis of the Deputy's contention. It is the normal practice of the Government to make policy statements in the Dáil when the Dáil is in session.
There was a Budget speech by the Minister for Finance two days ago.
It was not a Budget speech.
The attitude here seems to be that if 75 per cent. of the House are in agreement, the others have no say in any matter. As far as the Labour Party are concerned and as far as statements such as that made by the Minister for Lands are concerned, we shall continue to talk on these matters in Dáil Éireann and ask questions in Dáil Éireann.
The Leader of the Labour Party should read what I said.
All the questions which the Deputy can think of on matters on which he requires information regarding Government policy or current events will be welcomed.
Is it not a fact that the Government do not know their own policy and that we cannot then expect the Minister for Lands to know it?
To avoid any mis-interpretation of my silence may I say that is not true?
We intend to ask these questions and to keep on asking them.
In view of the statement already made that an amendment of the Constitution might be made, would the Taoiseach not think that now is the time to amend the Constitution?
I think the Deputy knows my views in that regard but I think it is very clear that no amendment of the Constitution would be involved.
It is worth investigating. I read the Constitution and I am not so certain.