asked the Taoiseach if he has had any recent discussions with British or European Government Ministers regarding Ireland's possible entry to EEC; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of EEC.
1.
I have not had any such discussions since the adjournment of the Dáil for the Summer Recess. The Government continues, of course, to be kept fully informed on developments in relation to the European Economic Community through our Missions in the countries of the Community.
Can the Taoiseach say if any action at all has been taken on our application since the Dáil recessed and if any progress was made on the Benelux proposal to widen the EEC to include four as well as the Six?
If the Deputy means any action on our part, there was none except from the point of view of keeping in touch with developments within the Community. As the Deputy is aware, very little action took place within the Community since the Dáil recessed and up to quite recently, indeed up to the meeting of the WEU Council of Ministers in Rome last week when the Belgian Foreign Minister, Mr. Harmel, brought forward certain proposals again that he thought might be debated within the context of the WEU and that might have brought ourselves and the other three applicants into a form of discussion.
However, as the Deputy is aware, the French delegate to the Council of the WEU vetoed these proposals and suggested again that the German proposals in the form that had been put forward to the Council before the recess might be considered. No other action that I know of has been taken.
Was there any official approach made to Ireland by any WEU member?
No, there was no approach made.
I take it the approach would have our goodwill?
Provided that it was in the context of a useful action leading to some effective contact with the EEC. The approach could not secure our goodwill for membership of WEU as such, as the Deputy is aware, but nevertheless some observer status with an EEC formula within WEU might be worth considering.
Has there been a decision that we would not join WEU under any circumstances?
That has never been considered. We have never been invited nor——
That is an open question?
It has never been suggested and it has not been considered.
Has the Taoiseach's attention been directed to the tentative proposals that are now circulating in Europe for a closer connection between EFTA and the EEC, and does he envisage the situation that might arise if these proposals mature and we find ourselves the only nation in Europe that is a participant in neither EFTA nor the EEC? Bearing that in mind, would he inform the House as to whether he regards that possible development as one which requires and is actually receiving close Government attention?
As the House is aware, the origin of EFTA had as its long-term concept the bridging of the gap between the two Communities. That has been debated and has been canvassed right through since the beginning of EFTA, and these suggestions have been made from time to time.
EFTA was started as a rival to the EEC.
There is no doubt that its original intent was to bridge the gap between the countries outside and the countries inside. We have not been invited to join EFTA, as the Deputy is aware, but if this development that he invisages takes place, that EEC and EFTA would get closer together, we certainly would not want to be left outside. I can assure the Deputy that our interest will not be lost sight of if such a development takes place.
We would want to watch.