asked the Taoiseach whether in view of the postponement of Ireland's EEC application the matter of a general review of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement was raised with Mr. Wilson.
2.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Talks with British Prime Minister.
1.
asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his meeting with Mr. Wilson last week.
3.
asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent discussions with the British Prime Minister.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 3 together.
In my meeting with Mr. Wilson we had a discussion on developments in relation to the European Economic Community since the Council meeting on the 18th and 19th December, including the various proposals which have been put forward with a view to bringing the applicant countries closer to the EEC and maintaining the momentum of the movement towards expansion of the Community.
We also discussed British restraints on external investment and had a useful exchange of views on international affairs generally of interest to both our countries.
The question of a general revision of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement was not discussed.
Does the Taoiseach accept that the position whereby, as he now states, we will not be in the EEC Community until, perhaps, the mid-seventies raises the question of the future of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement which, I understand, was drawn up on the basis that this country would be part of the EEC by 1970? Does the Taoiseach accept that we will be in the position now that we will be subject to the full rigours of the British economy before we can have the protection of the EEC?
The Free Trade Area Agreement between this country and the United Kingdom will not come into full effect before 1975. I stated repeatedly, in the course of our negotiations for entry to the EEC, that we would try to import into any arrangement we made with the EEC the same interim period, that is, up to 1975, to coincide with the period provided for in the Free Trade Area Agreement. I do not think there is any thing inconsistent in my approach.
Was there any discussion on the proposed interim arrangement between the EEC and Ireland and the interim arrangement between Britain and the EEC?
Yes, we had a general discussion on the suggestions that have been made since, including the Benelux and German proposals. Since then, a meeting has taken place between the French President and the German Chancellor and certain proposals have emerged. They are not very precise yet. They have not been published. I understand these proposals, and very likely the Benelux proposals, will be discussed by a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the EEC in the near future.
Was any firm conclusion reached at all in these discussions between the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister?
There was no question of coming to an agreement. The purpose of my visit was to have an exchange of views with the British Prime Minister, to get his views so far as I could get them and give him my views so far as I could do so. As a result of the discussion, we were able to form more firm impressions about the trend of events. There was no question of coming to conclusions.
Then there was no firm agreement on anything except that there would not be a review of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement?
We did not discuss a review of the Free Trade Area Agreement at all.
(Interruptions.)
Is the proposed interim arrangement with Britain similar to the proposed interim arrangement between Ireland and the EEC?
I do not believe there is any proposed interim arrangement with an individual country. Any interim arrangement that might be agreed upon will be with the four applicant countries and even that was widened in the recent Paris talks to include any other country which might want to become a member.
Does the Taoiseach accept that the practical result of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement, especially with the prospect of our entry into the EEC far more remote, is that we have given away everything and received nothing in return, that we have exposed Irish industry and received nothing in exchange?
(Interruptions.)
Our exports, particularly our industrial exports to Britain, have reached an all-time record notwithstanding that the British economy is not in a very healthy state. I think that is a good indication that the Agreement is working to our advantage.
(Interruptions.)