asked the Taoiseach when, having regard to present circumstances, the Government expect this country to be admitted to the EEC.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of EEC.
1.
The date of Ireland's accession to the European Economic Community will depend to a large extent on how soon the member Governments can agree among themselves on the opening of negotiations with the applicant countries. While the applications for membership, including that of Ireland, remain on the agenda of the Council, it is not possible at this stage to forecast when agreement to open negotiations will be reached.
In view of the nonreference in the Third Programme to the possibility of our admission to the EEC, I assume the Taoiseach does not contemplate our being a member before 1972?
The Programme was framed on that assumption.
That we would not be in by 1972?
Will the Taoiseach not agree that our application for entry into the EEC has been static for the last four or five years?
It certainly has not made any progress.
Is there any action which the Taoiseach envisages he could take to encourage the situation to move a little faster?
I do not think there is any initiative open to us at the present time to open negotiations but certainly any opportunity which is available to us to enhance our prospects or improve our knowledge of the situation is taken.
Is it not true to say that our whole position is about as dead as Queen Anne?
I would say that recent incidents in Paris did not enhance prospects of early negotiations.
Is this WEU?
No, I am talking about what they call "L'Affaire Soames."
Indeed, I know it.