Vol. 195 No. 1
asked the Taoiseach if Ireland has observer status at the discussions taking place among the members of the European Economic Community to arrive at an agreed political formula for the association; and, if not, if the Government are kept informed of the progress and outcome of such discussions.
2.
asked the Taoiseach whether his attention has been drawn to a report of 18th April that a Belgian spokesman said in regard to the negotiations for political union of the Common Market countries that Britain would be kept informed of the progress of political discussions, would be able to give her views on them, and would not be faced with a fait accompli; whether he has any comment to make on this report; and if any comparable arrangement obtains between this country and the countries of the EEC.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
At the discussions referred to, neither Ireland nor any other nonMember country has observer status.
I have seen the report referred to in the second Question. The House is aware that Britain and the Member States of the European Economic Community compose the Western European Union, within which matters of interest to the seven members are discussed.
Is it not a fact that although we have made application for full membership of EEC, we have no means of knowing what particular turn the political discussions are taking? Further is it not a fact that the British Government, according to Press reports, are kept fully informed of these discussions and is it not reasonable that we should be kept fully informed by somebody also?
I assume from the Taoiseach's reply that the statement made by the Belgian spokesman was incorrect?
I do not know that; I did not say it was incorrect.
I was under the impression from the Taoiseach's reply that no such agreement had been made with Great Britain either.
What I said was that no country outside the members of the European Economic Community has observer status on this committee. I said that Britain and the member countries are also members of the Western European Union within which matters of this kind are, I gather, discussed. It is not correct to say we have no information. We have no official right to information. It is known, for example, that this committee has now adjourned sine die and that there is nothing happening at present in respect of the negotiations in that committee. In my view, it is not desirable that we should seek to become involved in the discussions which are taking place in this committee until our application for membership of EEC has been decided.
Does the Taoiseach hold it was improper for the British to be informed of what is going on unofficially in so far as they are in the same circumstances as we are?
We should get this matter clear. Is the Taoiseach suggesting that the only information the British have is through the Western European Union?
I did not say that. I have seen the statement which was published in the Press, which the Deputy mentioned in his Question, attributed to a spokesman of the Belgian Government, to the effect that Britain is being kept informed of developments. I assume that statement is correct, although I have no information about it.
If it is correct, does the Taoiseach not think it desirable that we should have the same facilities as the British?
Our position is very different from that of the British. I have expressed the view that it would be unwise for us to try to get into these negotiations at this stage.
In effect, Britain is negotiating for us?
No; if the Deputy had been reading the newspapers more closely, he would have noted that a suggestion made by the British that they might be more closely involved in the negotiations was not too favourably received by some members of the committee.
Would the Taoiseach not consider it desirable that he should be in touch with the British Government, so that they, in turn, might tell us what is going on?
Is the Taoiseach aware that on 8th of March in the British House of Commons, the British Prime Minister stated specifically that the British Government were being kept aware informally of the political discussions taking place?
Yes.
Does the Taoiseach now consider that a reply he gave here before Easter, to the effect that he had no information at all about these discussions except what we saw on the papers, was correct?
I have said we have no official information about what is happening at that committee.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach whether, in view of our very close and perhaps almost unparalleled trading relations with the British, he would say whether the British have in fact kept us in touch with the progress of the talks as far as they affect the British and the possible reaction on our trade with the British?
Surely that is a separate question?
It is to find out if we know what is happening.
It does not arise relevantly.
What explanation can the Taoiseach give for the suggestion that there could be no advantage to Ireland in having informal information of what is going on in so far as the British find it is of much advantage?
What I said was that I saw no advantage in our getting involved in these discussions at this stage.
Are there not two facts clear: one, that the Fouchet Committee, as it was described, has adjourned sine die; and two, that there reaches the Government, as there reaches every other government, a great deal of unofficial information through the customary diplomatic channels, for which the diplomatic service is primarily intended?
That is correct.
It now takes the Leader of the main Opposition Party to save the Taoiseach.
I am mainly looking for information.
