Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Mar 1962

Vol. 194 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ireland's Membership of EEC.

1.

Dr. Browne

andMr. McQuillan asked the Taoiseach whether his statement on 26th April, 1960, repeated in the White Paper of July, 1961, that the best situation possibly for us would be association with the Common Market, if Britain were also a member of it, on a basis which satisfactorily took account of our economic circumstances, is still the Government's appreciation of the position; and, if so, if he will state at what stage and on what reassessment of the issues and considerations involved the Government decided to seek full membership of the EEC rather than the association proposed in the Government White Paper.

2.

Dr. Browne

andMr. McQuillan asked the Taoiseach whether in view of the Government undertaking in the White Paper of July 1961 that a further White Paper would be published in due course as a basis for discussion by Dáil Éireann of whatever decision might be proposed by the Government, and of the fact that such a decision to seek full membership has since been taken, the Government will take steps to provide a further White Paper for discussion in Dáil Éireann without delay.

The Taoiseach

I propose with your permission, Sir, to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

The arguments for and against membership of, and association with, the European Economic Community are set out in Part IV of the White Paper of the 30th June, 1961. In a statement made in this House on the 5th July, 1961, I indicated that our application would be for membership of the Community, not association, and I gave the reasons for that decision. On the 1st August, 1961, when announcing our decision to apply for membership, I stated that it was in accordance with the policy outlined in the July discussion. There could, therefore, be no possibility of misunderstanding of the Government's policy in this respect.

In the statement made fifteen months previously and mentioned in Question No. 1 the word "association" was used in its normal sense and not in the technical sense it has in Article 238 of the Rome Treaty.

Mr. McQuillan

Arising out of the Taoiseach's reply to Question No. 2, will he say when the White Paper is likely to be issued which he stated would be issued for discussion by Dáil Éireann when the decision was taken by the Government? In view of the fact that the decision has been taken by the Government to apply for full membership, will the Taoiseach now make the White Paper available dealing with the decision?

The Taoiseach

That decision was taken in July, 1961.

Mr. McQuillan

In that White Paper the Taoiseach said that depending on whatever decision might be taken by the Government a White Paper would then be published. Surely the Taoiseach will agree that the former White Paper is out of date and that a new White Paper with this new decision should be made available to the House?

The Taoiseach

When presenting that White Paper to the House, I announced the Government's decision and that decision was confirmed subsequently in the course of that month. I think the Deputy may have in mind the question that will arise for consideration here when our negotiations with the European Economic Community on our application for membership have been completed.

Mr. McQuillan

Can we take it that such a White Paper will not be made available until after discussions with the European Economic Community have taken place and that the Government have decided on their own line of accepting the implications of whatever decision may be arrived at?

The Taoiseach

I do not say that no White Paper will be presented to the House before that. Documents were made available last week dealing with the agricultural decision of the Community, but the White Paper, to which I think the Deputy refers, will relate to the final decision when that comes to be made.

Mr. Corish

It is understood that the Dáil will make the decision?

The Taoiseach

Certainly.

Mr. Norton

Would the Taoiseach say whether it has been possible to obtain for circulation an authoritative translation of whatever arrangements were made by the Six among themselves in respect of the agricultural field?

The Taoiseach

I do not know whether the translation is authoritative; it is our translation. That has been done already and copies of those decisions as translated by ourselves are available in the Library.

Mr. Corish

What about a simple interpretation?

The Taoiseach

I have sent the Deputy an interpretation.