asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if and when he received a request from the President of the European Parliament for the ratification by Ireland of the treaty dated 22nd July, 1975, concerning the European Parliament's responsibilities in budgetary matters; and the action he proposes to take in response to any such request.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Treaty Ratification.
14.
While the Minister personally has not received a request from the President of the European Parliament in relation to the treaty in question, he is aware that the President, Mr. Georges Spenale, wrote to the Taoiseach on 29th October, 1976, to enlist his personal interest in the matter of speeding up the process of ratification of this treaty by Ireland.
In the course of his reply, the Taoiseach informed Mr. Spenale that the Government are fully in favour of this treaty but that it was necessary before ratification to ensure that all the national measures required had been taken to enable implementation of the Treaty by Ireland.
The Minister hopes to be in a position to introduce legislation early in the next session of the Oireachtas to make the treaty part of the domestic law of the State. Once this legislation has been adopted the Minister would expect to proceed immediately to ratify the treaty.