Vol. 197 No. 7
asked the Taoiseach what consideration has so far been given to the question as to the extent, if any, to which it will be necessary to alter (a) the Constitution and (b) domestic law to meet the requirements involved in membership of the European Economic Community under the Treaty of Rome; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
2.
asked the Taoiseach the names of the members of the committee established by the Attorney General to consider and advise on the possible legislative changes necessary should Ireland adhere to the European Economic Community.
I propose, with your permission, Sir, to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.
As the House has already been informed, an inter-departmental committee was set up under the chairmanship of the Attorney General to examine the legal problems which will arise in connection with this country's accession to the European Economic Community. The constitutional implications are also being covered.
The Departments of External Affairs and Justice, as well as the Office of the Attorney General, are represented on the committee. It is the practice not to publish the names of civil servants who are members of inter-departmental committees.
Would the Taoiseach say how long, in fact, the committee has been functioning, how many meetings have been held and whether, to date, the committee has ascertained that it will be necessary to amend either the Constitution or the domestic law?
I am not in a position to give the information the Deputy requires, regarding the number of meetings held by the committee, without notice. The committee has been functioning for some time and is likely to continue to function for some time yet. It is dealing with a problem on which the position of the Community itself has not been clarified and which was the subject of a protracted debate recently in the European Parliament. I do not think it would be wise for us to try to reach conclusions in our own behalf in this matter until the views of other countries, which have similar problems, become known.
In view of the complexity of the problems involved, does the Taoiseach consider it advisable to ask, say, the Bar Council or the Incorporated Law Society to participate in the inquiry?
Not at this stage.
I take it that there will not be associated with another attempt to amend the Constitution an attempt to abolish proportional representation?
There is no danger, at this stage, that the Attorney General will make a mess of it?
Why does Deputy McQuillan attack people who are not here? Why not attack people here? Does he want all his victims tied down?
It is important that he should be a reliable person.
There is a motion on the Order Paper for his removal and you will not take it.
It is important that he should be a reliable person and it has been proved on many occasions——
Deputy Dr. Browne, particularly, likes to attack people who cannot hit back. We had an example of it yesterday.
