Vol. 243 No. 5
asked the Taoiseach if in view of the discussions held by the Six EEC countries at The Hague he will state what further action it is now intended to take concerning the application of Ireland to become a member, including the necessary preparatory steps; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
3.
asked the Taoiseach whether all aspects of this country's European policy will now be reviewed in the light of the possible prior accession of Britain to the EEC; and whether any consideration is being given to a contingency arrangement to provide for the period when Britain would be a member and Ireland not yet a member.
4.
asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the Government's position in relation to the future of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement, especially in view of the failure of the Ministers of the EEC countries to reach agreement at their meeting in The Hague on the deadline for opening discussions with this country on entry into the EEC.
5.
asked the Taoiseach if in view of the possible prior accession of Britain to the EEC any consideration is being given to a review of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 5 together.
I must make clear, once again, that there are no grounds for the view that Britain may accede to the European Communities in advance of Ireland. We have received the most firm assurances on this point.
As a result of the Summit Conference in The Hague there is now a definite prospect that negotiations with the applicant countries will open in the coming year. We shall, of course, be keeping in the closest touch with the Governments of the Six, of the applicant countries and with the Commission in Brussels during the period prior to the opening of negotiations. Further early Ministerial contacts with the Governments concerned and with the Commission are being planned. The Minister for External Affairs will already have an opportunity later this week of meeting his colleagues at the Ministerial meeting of the Council of Europe which is opening in Paris on Friday. At the same time, we are pressing ahead here at home with our own preparations in order to ensure that we will be fully ready for the negotiations when they start.
As Deputies are aware, Ministerial discussions on the operation of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement are to take place in London tomorrow. The Ministers will also have an exchange of views on developments in relation to the European Communities.
The Taoiseach says that definite assurances have been given. Were the assurances given by the Commission, as distinct from individual members of it? Secondly, is the question of the enlargement of the European Community on the agenda for the meeting on Friday of the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe?
As far as assurances are concerned, they have been given, as the Deputy is aware, by the Commission and, as well, by members of Governments of the Six and some heads of Government. I am afraid I cannot answer specifically the Deputy's question but I doubt if the matter is on the agenda for the Ministers' meeting on Friday.
So the Minister for External Affairs' discussion will be informal then?
Yes, I think it is better that way too.
Herr Schiller, the German Foreign Minister, said last week that negotiations with Britain would prove extremely complicated and that, therefore, the applications of the four individual members would be treated individually. This, in effect, means that the complicated negotiations with Britain will receive prior treatment by the EEC countries. Therefore, it must mean that there is a strong likelihood of Britain entering before ourselves. Have the Taoiseach and the Government considered any contingency arrangements to allow for British arrival in Europe before ourselves?
I said last week that as a matter of practical necessity there may be priority given to negotiations with Britain but after negotiations will have opened with all four applicants. I adhere to my view and to my belief in the affirmations given to us that our access to the Community will be simultaneous with that of Britain.
Did I hear the Taoiseach say that the matter of the application of the four countries or the general question of the EEC was on the agenda for the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe next Friday?
No. I was asked by Deputy Cosgrave if that was the case but I said I was not able to answer that question specifically.
Would the Taoiseach say, in view of his original reply, whether or not firm appointments have been made for discussion or consultation between our Minister for External Affairs and the other Foreign Ministers who will be at this meeting or will it be just a casual reference to it?
There will be no casualness about it. The Ministers will be there. The Minister is going to attend the meeting of the Council of Europe for the purposes of the agenda. As the Deputy is aware, on occasions like that Ministers make themselves available to each other. There are informal meetings on the premises in which the formal meetings are held at working lunches and at other things of that nature. I am sure the Minister for External Affairs will take full advantage of these occasions.
That in my view is too casual. He will be there for a specific purpose, attendance at a meeting of the Ministers of the Council of Europe, and if he bumps into one or two of them in the corridors he may talk to them about the Common Market.
Arising out of this aspect of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement, would the Taoiseach agree that discussions on Britain's application will be proceeding for at least half of next year and that that will mean another tariff cut in our agreement with Britain so that we will have suffered a 50 per cent tariff cut in our trading position with Britain since the agreement was set up? Would the Taoiseach also agree that our Ministers, in discussing the matter this week and in any further discussions there may be with the British Government, should consider what changes would be necessary in the working of this agreement in view of the probability that the agreement will cut further into our market without access into Europe?
I cannot answer the Deputy's specific question about tariff cuts because we do not anticipate details of the discussions that will take place in London.
Do I take it that the Taoiseach has informed the House that one of the four Ministers concerned is the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries?
I have not given the House any information about who is going to London.
That is no great secret.
I am answering questions as they are put.
In view of the fact that each of the applications will be considered individually, has the Taoiseach considered what might happen in the event of Britain only being accepted?
I do not think there will be any problem about our being accepted if the negotiations with Britain are successful. With regard to that part of Deputy O'Leary's question about the individual examinations I forgot to mention that I think we will get reference to problems in the course of the examination of other continental applications. We will at least get access of negotiations to these problems as they arise.
Is the Taoiseach convinced that there will be no problem?
I am.
