asked the Taoiseach if he will indicate to the Dáil the general outcome of his discussions with Mr. Wilson, the British Prime Minister, on Monday last.
3.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of EEC.
2.
asked the Taoiseach if he will inform the House of the matters discussed with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Wilson; and if he will make a statement on the present prospect of Irish entry into the EEC.
4.
asked the Taoiseach if he is now in a position to say what action it is proposed to take concerning the application of this country to join the EEC.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 2, 3 and 4 together.
As indicated in the communiqué issued following my meeting on Monday with the British Prime Minister, our discussion together covered matters of interest to both countries, especially the question of Britain's relations with the European Economic Community. While the details of my talk with Mr. Wilson must remain confidential, I can assure the House that I found our meeting most useful.
Our discussion on EEC matters was based on the hypothesis that Britain would shortly be making an application for membership of the Community, though Mr. Wilson made it clear to me that a decision to apply had at that stage not been taken by his Government. We had a full and frank discussion on the important matters of common interest which would arise for both our countries in the event of accession negotiations taking place. There was full agreement between us on the need for close and continuing consultation, between our two Governments, particularly at the negotiating stage, on problems of mutual concern.
Deputies are no doubt aware of Mr. Wilson's statement in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon in which he announced his Government's decision to apply for membership of the EEC, subject to the approval of Parliament. It is my intention that our own application for membership should follow closely on that of Britain.
Do I take it from the Taoiseach's reply that it is proposed to initiate discussions on our application before discussions conclude in Brussels on the British application?
Certainly. In fact I would aim to have both discussions synchronised to the greatest possible extent.
Contemporaneously?
Yes.
Are we not depending entirely on Britain to look after our application for entry? We seem to be leaning entirely on Britain. We are not acting independently.
We have acted independently throughout. Our application was made in July, 1961, and the Council of Ministers agreed in October, 1962, to open negotiations. That decision was overtaken by the suspension of the British application in January, 1963. We have acted independently in making our application. We shall continue our application independently but we hope to have close liaison with the British on mutual interests.
Can the Taoiseach say at this stage what transitional period it is proposed to seek in respect of our application on the question of protection for industry?
We hope to achieve the transitional period now operative on the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement —until 1975.
Could the Taoiseach indicate the particular safeguards that would be sought in respect of dumping?
We hope to improve, as far as we are concerned, on the present anti-dumping system in the Treaty. That will be an important factor in the discussions on our application for entry.
If the British decision was not to join, would we not have followed, would we not have acted likewise?
It is most unlikely that we will go ahead without Britain.
Before our application is reactivated, will the Dáil have an opportunity of a full and frank discussion of all the implications of our entry so that the country will know the risk of what we are facing before we in fact commit ourselves fully to it?
Will the Dáil have an opportunity of discussing this?
The Deputy knows that the Dáil had a long debate after our application was first made. We got approval from the Dáil then to proceed. If and when our application is on the point of acceptance, I certainly would give consideration to making the Dáil fully aware of the full implications.
Does the Taoiseach envisage any possibility of England being admitted and our being left out in the cold? If so, does the Taoiseach intend to go ahead with our application?
England would have to carry Scotland and Wales as well. As I said already in reply to news reporters in connection with my visit to Mr. Wilson last Monday, I do not envisage our not being able to get in.
Certain countries in Europe seem to be favourable to England's admission but not favourable to ours.
The Deputy is possibly basing that suggestion on a report made some weeks ago. As far as we can ascertain, that is not the position.
Were those reports wrong?
Yes; they have been officially denied.
I take it from the Taoiseach's reply to these questions that we are making a separate and individual application, along with the United Kingdom. Could the Taoiseach tell the House, in the event of the United Kingdom application falling down—in other words, their not securing admission to the Common Market—would our application be then withdrawn or would it still stand?
It is very difficult to proceed on a hypothesis like this. As I said in reply to Deputy Murphy, it is unlikely that our application would proceed if the British did not go ahead.
Would the Taoiseach not further agree that our application is not really a separate application, that it is a conjoint application with the United Kingdom? In effect, they are negotiating for us and we are following along after them. Is that not the position?
I want to refute entirely that the British are negotiating for us. They are negotiating only for themselves. They would have regard to Irish interests where Irish interests are concerned. I want to assure the Deputy that our discussions will be carried on by us and by nobody else.