asked the Taoiseach whether any approach has been made to the French Government to ascertain whether, should Great Britain's application for membership of the EEC be approved at a later date, no objection will be raised by France to Ireland's application for membership of the Community; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ireland's Membership of EEC.
1.
The answer is in the negative.
I would remind the Deputy that on 22nd October, 1962, the French Government in common with the other Member Governments of the European Economic Community, agreed to the opening of negotiations on our application for membership of the Community.
Having regard to the situation which has now arisen — a situation in which it is not now anticipated that the British application will be disposed of favourably this year—and in view of the fact that we may not be admitted to the EEC, even if the British application has been satisfactorily disposed of, would the Taoiseach not think it prudent to approach the French Government at this stage to ensure that when the British application has been fully processed and disposed of, there will be no hitch about our subsequent or simultaneous admission to EEC?
We have certainly no reason to think there will be any special difficulty about our application, if the deadlock affecting the British application should be resolved.
The Taoiseach held similar views some time ago about the British application and our own. So optimistic were his views that he indicated we would be in by 1st March next year. General de Gaulle, however, has willed otherwise. Now it is generally estimated it will be some years before the British application is revived. Having regard to the fact we are now dismantling our tariffs for the immediate benefit of the French exporters and that that is a process which will substantially benefit French exporters in a matter of a few years, would he now take the precaution of ensuring that after doing all these things for the benefit of the French, we will not be presented, as the British were, with the same unpredictable attitude?
I do not think we should assume that any difficulty would arise. In fact, I think it would be most unwise.
I am afraid that by adopting that attitude the Taoiseach is possibly giving hostages to fortune. Nobody can take anything for granted, in view of what has happened in respect of the British application—a development which in fact amazed France's five other colleagues in the Community. Why, having regard to the way they were startled by the French decision, should we take the matter in any complacent way?
It is a good rule not to scream until somebody hits you.
In view of the fact that we are proposing to remove our tariffs as if we were to become members of EEC by a specific date, does the Taoiseach not consider that the dismantling of the tariffs as proposed is too severe a process, in view of the fact we are not going to get any real benefit from this by way of membership of any free trade group?
As the Deputy knows, the process of tariff reduction in which we are engaging is primarily in our own interest. It is to ensure that if the possibility of EEC membership should open up again, we would be able to take the shorter transitional period that would then be available to us. One of the advantages of doing it on a unilateral basis is that we can give ourselves the exemptions and reliefs which we might require and for which we had hoped to negotiate.
I appreciate that. I think, however, the Taoiseach will admit that the stripping of these tariffs is being done in the anticipation of getting some advantages, particularly, as the Taoiseach said, for agriculture. Now we propose to strip ourselves of tariff protection, but there does not seem to be any benefit that might accrue to us in the immediate future?
It is obviously a situation which will have to be judged as it develops. Certainly we should not take any decision now which would be a straitjacket for ourselves in circumstances we cannot now foresee.
Would it be unreasonable to suggest that we should make an approach? The possibility is that the French might not accept us as full members but might accept us as associate members.
We have no reason whatever to assume that if the deadlock concerning the British application should be resolved, our application would not get back to the position it was in before the deadlock arose.
The Taoiseach relies for not taking any action on a statement made last year by the French Government?
No, on a decision recorded in Brussels.
Whatever you like. Since then, a profound change has taken place, namely, the virtual rejection of the British application or, at a minimum, the putting into cold storage of the British application. In view of that fact, and having regard to the general disquiet caused by what has happened, would the Taoiseach think it superfluous, while we are marking time, to ask the French Government to please confirm as far as they are concerned that they will not adopt towards our application, on some other grounds perhaps, the same attitude as they have adopted towards the British application? In the meantime, we can wait to see what happens the British.
I think that course would be quite unwise.
Has the Taoiseach's attention been drawn to the report of the Commission of the EEC which declares that Denmark's application had been the subject of three Ministerial meetings and six meetings at a high official level, that the date was virtually settled, while Ireland's application had never passed beyond the stage of being accepted?
That seems to be irrelevant to this question.
It suggests that Denmark has been much more active in clearing the ground than we have, although we were assured, on the Taoiseach's authority here, that there was no difference between the position of our application and that of Denmark.
Have we told the EEC that our application is to be suspended, pending clarification of the British application?
No.
Were we not invited to do that?
No.
I saw a report to the effect that it was left to a country like Ireland to decide whether it would continue with its application or have it suspended?
We have had no official communication from the Community on this subject.