asked the Taoiseach if he will state, in the event of Ireland's entry into the EEC, how many representatives Ireland will be entitled to in the EEC Parliament.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Representation in EEC Parliament.
1.
The representation to be accorded Ireland and other applicant countries in the European Parliament upon entry into the European Economic Community will be a matter for settlement in the course of negotiations for membership. The representation prescribed in the Treaty of Rome for the present member States is based on a system used for the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, each member State having twice the number of seats allotted to it in the Consultative Assembly. If this basis for representation in the European Parliament were maintained in an enlarged Community, Ireland would be entitled to eight seats.
Does the same system of substitutes apply in the European Parliament as applies at Strasbourg?
I am afraid I could not answer that, offhand.
Could the Taoiseach say how many there would be in the European Parliament?
At the present time there are 206 in the European Parliament. One does not know how many new members will accede to the EEC but if there were accessions by all the applicant countries, the representation would be doubled.
And we would have eight?
Yes.
Out of 500?
I am sorry: I gave the wrong figure. It should be 142 members.
Which would mean that we would have eight out of 300 seats.
A little more than 200 would be the most, provided all present aspirant members acceded to the EEC. The first figure I should have given is 142. It would mean there would be about 206 in the event of an enlarged Community.
Has the practice been for Member States of the EEC to have all Government Deputies or would there be Deputies from all Parliamentary Parties?
I do not think that is the practice.
It is not at Strasbourg.
Not at Strasbourg but at Brussels——
I do not think that is the practice at Brussels.
Would the Taoiseach ascertain the position and we will put down another question?
If you would, please.