asked the Taoiseach if it is proposed to introduce legislation on proposed changes in the Constitution; if so, when; and the nature of the Constitutional changes envisaged.
3.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of EEC.
2.
asked the Taoiseach when it is proposed to introduce legislation to enable the Constitution to be amended; and what changes are envisaged.
4.
asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the statement of the Minister for Foreign Affairs that a detailed timetable concerning the Government's application for EEC entry will shortly be announced by him; and if he will give details of such timetable.
5.
asked the Taoiseach if he will state in connection with this country's proposed entry to the EEC when he proposes to make an announcement concerning the timetable of entry.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 together.
It now seems likely that the negotiations for enlargement of the European Economic Community will be completed by the end of the year. We would expect, in the course of 1972, to pass the appropriate legislation to enable us to submit any necessary Constitutional changes to the public by way of referendum so that we would be in a position to accede by the 1st January, 1973.
The precise nature of any Constitutional change will be proposed to the Dáil in due course with the draft legislation providing for the referendum.
In view of the fact that the local elections are scheduled for June of 1972, may I ask the Taoiseach if one might anticipate that the referendum and the local elections would take place in the same month?
That is possible and even on the same day if it was thought feasible.
Or the other one?
We will wait for the other one for a while, I think.
Can the Taoiseach say when it is intended to introduce the vote at 18 and if this might be introduced together with the other changes?
That is a separate question.
I mentioned the other day that in case there might be any doubt about the issue of voting for or against changes in the Constitution affecting membership of the EEC, I would take that into consideration before I would introduce any other issue into a referendum or before I would introduce any other issue on the same day as the referendum. It would be hoped to go ahead with the question of the vote at 18 as early as possible.
All in the one referendum?
They could be on the one day but there would have to be separate questions.
As many as possible.
Does the Taoiseach mean a general election?
I am not considering that at all. Perhaps that will ease the Deputy's mind.
What is happening to the dissidents whom the Taoiseach said he would deal with in his own time? I would welcome a general election at any time and so would the people of the country.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
The Taoiseach has not yet made up his mind whether we are to have a referendum in connection with changes in the Constitution relating to our membership of the EEC. We also need other changes in the Constitution. Is it anticipated that we shall have two referenda, one which will be related directly to the EEC and the other to general changes such as giving the vote at 18 and the deletion of certain Articles?
I do not know whether the first part of that supplementary was a statement or a question. It is more than likely that we will have to have a referendum before we can accede to membership of the EEC. I would like if possible to have a referendum on the other matters such as the vote at 18 on the same day because this would avoid expense and other kinds of activities that we would not wish to duplicate but in case there might be any confusion in the minds of the public, it might be better—I am not certain whether it would—to have only the one issue but whether we will have a referendum on a particular day each change would have to be a separate issue.
Is the Taoiseach not aware that in the past the Government tried to confuse the people by the way they put questions?
We cannot discuss these matters.
Is that what happened?
Do not talk about the bullyboys.