Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Feb 1967

Vol. 226 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of EEC.

3.

asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement in regard to the prospects of this country's joining the Common Market; what progress has been made in regard to this matter by the Government in recent months; and if he will give the Dáil the up-to-date position in regard to this urgent national problem which is of so great concern to farmers, workers and industrialists.

4.

asked the Taoiseach if there have been any developments concerning the application of this country to join the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.

Since the resolution during the past year of the crisis in the internal affairs of the European Economic Community, the Community has taken a number of far-reaching decisions which constitute major progress towards realisation of the objectives of the Treaty of Rome. The achievement of this progress put the Community in a position to devote increasing attention to its relations with other countries.

Deputies will recall that in September last the Tánaiste and I visited the Commission in Brussels where we had a wide-ranging discussion, in the course of which we were greatly impressed by the appreciation shown by the members and officials of the Commission of Ireland's position. Arrangements were agreed at that meeting for further meetings at Ministerial level. In line with these arrangements the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries had discussions with the Commission in January and this will be followed by further visits by Ministers to Brussels at appropriate intervals, to be supplemented where necessary by visits of officials.

It is our earnest hope that the recent initiative of the British Prime Minister towards the Member Governments will lead to a re-activation of the applications for new membership. During my talks with Mr. Wilson last December we agreed to keep in close touch on this matter. At the same time we continue to maintain the closest contact on Common Market matters with the Governments of the Six.

At home there is a continuing examination of the implications for us of developments within the Communities since their establishment. As I announced some time ago, the Government proposes to issue very shortly a White Paper on the European Communities which will include these developments. Deputies can rest assured that no opportunity is being lost of ensuring maximum preparedness for the negotiations when that stage is reached.

Has the Taoiseach's attention been directed to a comment by the British Prime Minister to the effect that application for membership might be confined to Britain in the near future? Has he any information on that aspect of the matter?

I am not aware of that comment and I certainly would not accept that as a valid one.

It may not be correct but it was so reported.

Is it a fact that the British Prime Minister is negotiating our application for membership as well as the British application?

He is at the moment exploring the possibilities of his reactivating the British application.

And on our behalf?

Can we take it that when the British Prime Minister has completed his present tour of visits to Member Countries, the Taoiseach will seek to have further discussions in regard to our position in the EEC?

Any further discussions will be related to my being put in the picture as far as I can be, as to the outcome of the British Prime Minister's talks with the Six.

This will happen when Mr. Wilson has done his tour of the Six?

Some time afterwards.

Is it the position that if the Taoiseach gets the green light from the British Prime Minister, our application will be re-activated?

There is no question of getting the green light. When and if the British application is re-activated, ours will be re-activated also.

The matter might be determined if the Taoiseach were to despatch the Minister for External Affairs to see General de Gaulle?

Top
Share