asked the Taoiseach the name and position or rank held by each of the persons before whom he made his statement on Ireland's application to join the European Economic Community in Brussels on 18th January last, at what was described as a meeting with the Ministers of the Governments of the member States of the EEC.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Brussels Statement on Ireland's EEC Application.
3.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to circulate in the Official Report a statement giving the names of, and the positions held by, the leaders of the respective delegations at the meeting in Brussels on the 18th January, before which my statement on Ireland's application to join the European Economic Community was made.
Following is the statement:—
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BELGIUM: |
M. Fayat—Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. |
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M. Brasseur—Minister of Foreign Trade and Technical Assistance. |
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FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY: |
Herr Lahr—Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. |
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FRANCE: |
M. Couve de Murville—Minister of Foreign Affairs (Chairman). |
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ITALY: |
On. Sig. Russo—Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. |
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LUXEMBOURG: |
M. Borschette—Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the European Communities. |
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THE NETHERLANDS: |
M. Van Houten—Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. |
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THE COMMISSION |
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(of the European Economic Community): |
M. Mansholt—Vice-President. |
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M. Caron—Vice-President. |
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M. Rey—Member. |
Would the Taoiseach say whether or not, outside reading the document at that particular meeting, there were any discussions?
I have already said there were no substantive discussions at that meeting.
Was the Taoiseach aware of the fact, prior to going to Brussels, that there would be no subsequent discussions at the meeting?
No.
Would it be fair to suggest that the Taoiseach brought a planeload of advisers and Ministers with him purely for the purpose of reading out a "document of sale" in Brussels?