asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action taken within the EEC on Article 100 with regard to consumer interests, liberalisation of trade and conservation of the environment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Consumer Interests Policy.
9.
I would refer the Deputy to the Council Resolution of 17th December, 1973, on industrial policy which adopted a time-table for the realisation of the first stage of the programme provided for in the Paris Summit communiqué. This programme sets out the priorities and deadlines for the abolition of technical barriers to trade in foodstuffs and industrial products.
Apart from its primary end in liberalising trade, the programme also bears on consumer interests in so far as health, safety and composition standards are concerned and on the environment in certain respects, for example, maximum lead content in motor fuels, maximum sulpher content in domestic fuel oils, permissible noise level of mopeds, motorcycles, civil engineering plant, water pollution by pleasure boats, and so on.
The full text of the resolution, which is quite lengthy, will be found in Vol. 16, No. C 117, of the Official Journal of the European Communities of 31st December, 1973, a copy of which has been placed in the Dáil Library.
Can the Minister state if we are able to comply with these matters? I shall take one example, namely, the lead in petrol?
The Deputy is asking a specific question and I would have to have notice of it. It is a separate matter and I would ask him to put down a question. The resolution is very lengthy and I should not like to mislead the Deputy by attempting to reply without further information.
All right.