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.