asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government have given any consideration to having Ireland's representatives in the European Parliament of the EEC directly elected by the Irish people; and if he will indicate his attitude on this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - European Parliament Representatives.
4.
Article 138 of the Treaty of Rome prescribes that the European Parliament shall be composed of delegates who shall be nominated by the respective Parliaments of the member States from among their members in accordance with the procedure laid down by each member State. Our representatives to the European Parliament will be selected in accordance with this provision.
The question of elections to the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage will arise in the context of its consideration by the enlarged Community as further provided for in Article 138.
Is it not possible, within Article 138, for the Dáil to nominate people who have previously been directly elected under an Act passed by this Dáil to the European Parliament? Is it not possible for us to nominate people who have been directly elected for that purpose?
Oh, yes. There is no exclusion, as far as I know. The Deputy means that Deputies of the House could be nominated?
No, that we could hold an election specifically designed to fill seats in the European Parliament and then here nominate the people who are elected at that special election to our places?
The Article allows us to have our own procedures. We could do that, yes.
Would the Minister be in favour of that procedure?
It would not be for me. It would be a decision——
Of the Government?
Indeed it might be even wider than that. The House would have to make its own procedures—a decision of this House, I would say.
Would the Minister give the House any lead on this issue?
We will talk about that when the time comes.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 5.
Is it not true that other applicants have considered such procedure and that some of them are considering going ahead without waiting for unanimity on this question of direct election? Will the Minister give urgent consideration to this question so that we may make our contribution to the fuller democratisation of the institutions of the Community?
You do not have to wait for a direct election. We will, I think, agree on the numbers and what you are asked for is a nomination of people from here by this House. We can select those people in any way we like. At this time it would not be for one individual TD to say how this House should do it.
That is not the way the Minister was talking a few moments ago. He was not one individual then.
I have two functions. I am a TD and I am a Minister. I shall give the Deputy a lecture on Dáil procedure, too, if he likes.