asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will soon indicate the method whereby Irish citizens may offer themselves for election to the European Parliament when direct elections take place.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - European Parliament Election.
20.
As the Deputy is aware, the question of holding elections to the European Parliament on the basis of direct universal suffrage has been under consideration for some time within the Council of the European Communities. At its meeting in Rome on 1st-2nd December, 1975, the European Council agreed that elections to the European Parliament shall take place on a single date in May or June, 1978. The European Council instructed the Council of Ministers to continue examination of the problems encountered and to submit a report which will enable the text of the convention on elections to the European Parliament to be finalised at the next European Council on 1st-2nd April. This examination is now in progress.
I might add for the Deputy's information that on the basis of the discussions to date it appears that, pending the introduction of a uniform electoral system for which the Parliament itself is to draw up proposals by 1980, it is likely that each member State will have the right to decide on its own electoral system. When agreement has been reached on this matter and on the number of representatives to be elected in each member State, the question raised by the Deputy will be considered and proposals will be put forward by the Government.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary agree that, as the proposed date is only a little over two years away, there is some urgency in coming to a conclusion in this matter? Will the Irish Government press for an early decision because naturally each member State will have to make its own internal arrangements to ensure that these elections are properly carried out?
I agree that there is a certain urgency about this, but I would remind the House that there is not yet unanimity, or anything like unanimity, between the different nationalities represented in the European Council of heads of governments on the number of representatives. This is something which obviously will determine the shape of constituencies, the mode of voting and so forth. There is a very wide divergence between for example, the Irish proposal in regard to our own number of representatives and a counter proposal made by the French.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the report which has been issued by the Joint Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Parliament on this question? If so, can he indicate whether the Government have taken any view on the suggestions put forward in that report, or if it is intended that that report will be debated in the House?
I have no information to give the Deputy on that supplementary question. If he puts down a specific proposal to have the report debated in the House, that proposal will be dealt with on its merits. I have not any information on the view the Government might take on the report. The only information I have on the present situation on direct elections is what I have said.
Have the Government not considered that report which was issued some months ago? That committee was set up as far as I can recall, to quote the Minister, "to enable the Government to be aware of the consensus of views within the House" and that consensus was expressed months ago. Is the Parliamentary Secretary telling us that the Government have not yet considered it?
I am not saying that. I know the Minister has been preoccupied with this and I take it for granted that it has been discussed and considered by the Government.
The Parliamentary Secretary says he is taking it for granted that it has been discussed and considered. Can he be more specific?
I cannot tell the Deputy from my own knowledge, as he well knows.
One would have thought he could.
I cannot.
May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary in his capacity as Chief Whip if it is intended to have this report brought before the House? This is a report by a committee of this House to both Houses of the Oireachtas. Surely it is a matter for the Government and particularly the Government Chief Whip to indicate whether it is intended that the report will be debated in this House.
The Deputy knows perfectly well that I do not determine what items will be brought before the House. If there is a proposal that it should be debated, it might, perhaps, be put to the Taoiseach on the Order of Business on some occasion and it will be considered on its merits.
What humility.
I thought the Parliamentary Secretary was the sole master of this.
He is beginning to tolerate parliamentary democratic procedure.