asked the Taoiseach whether he has any statement to make on the Common Market situation consequent on the recent developments in Brussels.
2.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Negotiations.
1.
asked the Taoiseach if the date for negotiations for Ireland's application to join the EEC has yet been agreed upon; if he will assure the House that such negotiations will be conducted at political level; and if he is now in a position to give the names of the negotiating team.
3.
asked the Taoiseach whether the Government have yet commenced to negotiate for Ireland's entry into the EEC; and if he will give the names of the delegation that will represent the Government, if and when negotiations take place.
4.
asked the Taoiseach whether he had any discussions with the British Government which would indicate the approximate date as to when their application for admission to the EEC would be acceded to; and whether he can now indicate when Ireland's application for admission will be processed and formal admission to the EEC approved.
5.
asked the Taoiseach whether there were any further developments with regard to negotiations with the countries of the European Economic Community on Ireland's proposed entry into the Community since the Dáil rose for the Christmas recess; and, if so, what developments.
6.
asked the Taoiseach whether, in view of the statement made by General de Gaulle on 14th January regarding the desirability of Britain's seeking association with, rather than membership of, the European Economic Community, he will further investigate the possibilities of Ireland's obtaining a treaty of association, should Britain make such application.
7.
asked the Taoiseach what effect the statement of President de Gaulle on 14th January will have on Ireland's application for membership of the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
8.
andMr. McQuillan asked the Taoiseach if, in view of the present development in the British EEC negotiations, he intends to pursue the Irish application for full membership; or whether any consideration has been given to the question of Ireland's applying for associate membership.
9.
andMr. McQuillan asked the Taoiseach whether, in view of recent developments in Britain's application to join the EEC, the Government will now consider maintaining military neutrality and not taking part in a European defence arrangement.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 9 together.
Deputies will be aware of the critical situation which has arisen in the negotiations on Britain's application for membership of the European Economic Community. The outcome is still in doubt. There have been no developments with regard to Ireland's application during the Christmas recess and none may be expected until the outcome of the crisis in the negotiations with Britain is known.
While it is to be hoped that the discussions to be resumed next week at Brussels will result in an agreement which will facilitate the continuation of the negotiations with Britain, and subsequently with this country, I do not consider that it would be in the national interest to make any further comment on the position at this stage.
If the Taoiseach states that at this stage it would not be in the national interest to discuss this matter in detail, pending the resolution of the negotiations in contemplation for next week at Brussels, will he undertake to provide an occasion to debate the matter adequately in Dáil Éireann, if and when the Brussels negotiations reach a definitive stage?
When a clear situation has emerged, it would certainly be my intention to make a statement of Government policy in regard to it and to give the House an opportunity of considering it. We are, of course, examining all the various possibilities.
Could the Taoiseach answer the second part of Question No. 2: as to whether or not any future negotiations will be taken at political level?
I am not quite sure I understand the Deputy. If negotiations are resumed, they will be at Ministerial level.
In view of the Taoiseach's numerous statements here in the House that the idea of associate membership was purely academic and would not arise and in view of the possibility now that the British negotiations may fail, does the Taoiseach intend to pursue Ireland's application for full membership which he made even prior to the British application for membership?
It would be undesirable, in my view, to make any announcement at this stage as to the courses of action which the Government might consider in the event of either the failure or indefinite suspension of the negotiations between Britain and the EEC nations.
Could the Taoiseach say whether or not in his conversations with President de Gaulle some months ago the French President indicated if our application for full membership would be favourably received by the French Government?
I do not know that I am at liberty to reveal what was said during that conversation. The Deputy must be aware that subsequent to those conversations the representatives of the Six at Brussels, including the French representatives, accepted our application, in principle, for negotiation.
In order to inform the public mind on this matter, would the Taoiseach say whether from the standpoint of the Government our application stands or falls with the British application?
I have already said it would be undesirable at this stage for me to attempt to forecast what our course of action might be in circumstances which may or may not arise.
I take it from what the Taoiseach has said that in the event of the British application being rejected, we will not be put into a catastrophic death or glory struggle to get into the Common Market if the British are not there?
The Deputy may rest assured we will take the course which, in our view, is most likely to protect the national interest.
I should like to ask the Taoiseach what distinction does he make between the determination or indefinite suspension of the Brussels negotiations? Are these not substantially the same thing?
I do not think so. Clearly there are at least two possibilities which could be mentioned— either a formal withdrawal of the British application or a formal rejection of it by the EEC; there could also be an indefinite suspension of action on the application.
Surely the Taoiseach will agree with me that the worst of all public woes would be an indefinite suspension, with all its attendant uncertainties, not only in our neighbouring country but with repercussions upon us because of the uncertainty which would obtain as to whether there was to be at some future date a resumption of these negotiations and an entry into the Common Market, or whether alternative arrangements would be made and the determination made on that basis for future development in both the agricultural and industrial sphere?
I would agree that a protracted period of uncertainty would be very undesirable.
We do not know where we are going.