asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs what attitude he has adopted in negotiations to the German-backed proposals that the member countries of the EEC widen the limits on the movement of their currencies' exchange rates with the US dollar, and his attitude to the French view that such a proposal might jeopardise the common farm policy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Currency Exchange Rates.
13.
The proposals referred to do not arise in the negotiations.
Would the Minister not agree that the common farm policy is one of the most important items of EEC policy?
The proposals do not arise in the negotiations.
Has the Minister mentioned this problem in the formal and informal contacts he has had with the Foreign and Finance Ministers of the Member States?
We study these things in depth.
Has the Minister done anything other than study them?
They do not arise in the negotiations.
Surely this does arise. Surely the Minister will agree that one of the problems created by the currency situation is that it has been interfering with the operation of the common agricultural policy and in view of our interest in that have we not an interest in ensuring that this problem is settled in such a way that the resulting exchange rates which are at present inhibiting the operation of the farm policy would be removed and we would return to a fixed exchange rate position that would help the farm policy to operate to our benefit?
If I can resist the temptation to show off may I say that in this matter I am not involved because it does not arise in the negotiations? If the House would like to discuss the merits of it and our opinion on the matter, it is a matter for another Minister.
I am calling Question No. 14.
At least we have discovered something which is not a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Order. I have called Question No. 14.