andMr. McQuillan asked the Taoiseach whether his reported statement of 10th May 1962 that it was more correct to speak of “if we join” rather than “when we join” the EEC represents any change in his belief that Ireland's application to join the EEC as a full member will actually be accepted.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ireland's EEC Application.
1.
I did not make the statement quoted in the question, nor, so far as I am aware, was I reported as having made it.
Could I ask the Taoiseach if he is still quite satisfied that it is not an academic question—that is the word he used himself—to consider the implication of our application being refused, that he is still quite satisfied——
That makes the question a bit difficult.
I said on the occasion to which the question refers that there has been no development which might lead us to think that our application will not be successful within the time that we anticipated.
Did the Taoiseach not use the word "if"? He was reported in the two newspapers that I saw as using the word "if".
And quoted on Radio Éireann.
I did not hear it on Radio Éireann but I certainly saw it in two newspapers.
I said: "In all our talks about the Common Market, we have now fallen generally into the habit of speaking about `when we are a member' rather than `if we become a member'."
Exactly.