asked the Taoiseach whether, in view of his statement in Bonn on 23rd October that the reason for Ireland's application for membership of the European Economic Community was primarily political but was backed up by economic reasons, he will state the reasons why he has not prior to this statement fully informed the House and the Irish public generally that the reasons for applying for membership were primarily political and secondarily economic; and if he will refer to his speech of 5th July 1961 in which he originally explained the motives which impelled the Government to apply for membership of EEC, and inform the House in what way this speech was intended to convey that the reason for application was primarily political.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ireland's EEC Membership Application.
17.
My speech to the Dáil on the 5th July, 1961, to which the Deputy refers, did not purport to be a comprehensive statement about the European Economic Community.
In reply to a question in Bonn on the 23rd October, 1962, about our application to join the European Economic Community, I said that our reason was primarily political but that, backing up that political decision, was the recognition that there would be no economic future of any kind for Ireland in the circumstances in which the other countries of Western Europe would be combined in the Common Market. I added that we hoped to be able to participate in the effort which was being made to build up the unity of Western Europe and to ensure, by common action, its future progress in the economic and every other sense.
It is, I think, quite obvious that a decision involving acceptance of the aims and obligations of the European Economic Community must be primarily political, having regard to the very wide scope and depth of the provisions of the Rome Treaty. It was for that reason that the opening section of my statement in Brussels on the 18th January, 1962, was devoted to the political aspects of membership of the Community.