asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when it is anticipated that the Republic of Greece will become a member of the EEC; and the procedures that will be adopted for debating within the Oireachtas the entry of Greece into the EEC.
25.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Membership for Greece.
24.
andMr. Kavanagh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is proposed to publish a statement indicating Ireland's formal position in relation to the terms of entry of the Republic of Greece into the EEC; and if such a document, if published, will contain any assessment of how the entry of that country is likely to affect Ireland's position.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, the accession negotiations with Greece have now reached their conclusion. It is expected that the Treaty of Accession will be signed in Athens on 28 May 1979 and allowing time for ratification by national parliaments, Greece is expected to become the Tenth Member of the Community on 1 January 1981.
In due course a resolution will be brought before Dáil Éireann for approval of the terms of the Greek Treaty of Accession. There are no plans to publish a document of the sort described by the Deputies but, as I said, the Dáil will have an opportunity to discuss the terms on which Greece will enter the Community. Deputies will also be aware that I have on many occasions expressed support for Greek membership while at the same time advocating measures to alleviate structural and regional disparities in the existing Community. I may say that up to now we have been satisfied from a national point of view with the arrangements which have been arrived at in the context of the negotiations with Greece. We will have an opportunity of discussing these arrangements in the course of the debate on the resolution I have referred to.
With specific reference to Question No. 25, I asked if it was the Government's intention to publish either by way of a document or in the course of the Government's speech on the resolution a statement giving an indication of the Government's assessment of the entry of Greece into the Community.
We will have a full debate in the House and this debate will give the Government ample scope to present their assessment of the matter.
I am aware that the debate will give ample scope but I am not aware that the Government will take the opportunity to tell us anything. Is it the Government's intention to publish, either by way of a document in advance of the resolution or during the course of the Minister's speech, a detailed assessment of the effect of the entry of Greece into the Community on our performance and prospects?
A free open debate in this House is the best way to give the necessary assessment for the benefit of the House and of the nation. In the course of that debate we can have a full discussion on all the issues involved in the Greek accession.
I appreciate that the Minister recognises the valuable contribution the Opposition make in such assessment. Since the Government have the resources——
A question, please.
Since the Government have the resources of the civil service, I am asking the Minister if he proposes to publish a statement on the impact of the entry of Greece.
The Deputy has asked that question before and I have answered it.
Can I take it that this is not the Minister's intention?
I said in my reply that there are no plans to publish a document of the sort described by the Deputy, but we will have a full debate in this House in which the Government will be delighted to hear the constructive views of responsible Opposition spokesmen who can make a contribution to the total national assessment of the Greek application for membership.
Am I correct in assuming that this debate will not take place until the terms are already signed, sealed and delivered? Secondly, is the Minister aware that Greece will become the only country in the EEC with a lower GNP per head than Ireland and that, therefore, they will be making demands which are not now being made on the regional and social funds, thereby making less money available for Ireland?
That does not arise out of the question.
I wish to ask a supplementary question when the Minister has replied to the previous one.
I answered Deputy Bruton's question. I stated that while supporting the Greek application there are many aspects in regard to the existing structural and regional disparities in the present Community which are obviously of concern to us, with a further country having a lower national product becoming a member of the community. That goes without saying.
Is the Minister aware that the Irish Government, at the time the Greek application was made, made two pre-conditions in no unfriendly spirit towards Greece. The pre-condition to the opening of negotiations was that additional resources should be provided pro rata with the expansion of the Community and this was accepted. The second pre-condition was that the conclusion of negotiations would be preceded by a significant improvement in the decision-making mechanism of the Community. Will the Minister say what has happened to the second Irish pre-condition? Has anything been done about it or has it been dropped? Is action to be taken on it before this matter is finally concluded?
As far as the second aspect is concerned, Ireland is pursuing vigorously the whole question of the improvement of the decision-making process of the Community. This matter has been taken up by the Taoiseach and by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in several discussions at summit level and elsewhere.
The Minister for once must not dodge the question. We made it a pre-condition of the conclusion of negotiations, in the most formal way, that there must be a change in the decision-making mechanism to make it more effective. Has that been dropped? Will the Minister answer a straight question?
I do not propose to accept the Deputy's version of what has happened.
Is the Minister accusing me of lying about what I did in office?
I do not accept the Deputy's version, that the Deputy made any pre-condition in regard to any matter of this kind.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
(Interruptions.)
Without in any way questioning your ruling which I entirely accept, would you allow me to raise very briefly the question of the way the House does its business in regard to Private Notice Questions? I put one down yesterday morning to ask the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy what he proposes to do about the situation in Irish Meat Packers where, because of the non-delivery of cattle, 450 workers are on notice on Friday.
The Deputy is aware——
I accept the Chair's ruling but merely because I put down this question yesterday it was just outside the three days for getting on to Thursday's Order Paper. It may duly appear on Thursday's Order Paper on the grounds that this is still in advance of Friday when the notice will expire. It may be on Thursday's Order Paper, but in the rotation it will not appear until October, by which time, for all I know, the factory may be sold or closed down. Surely the rotation of questions is a matter which ought to be looked at as a practical feature in the practice of the House in regard to Private Notice Questions. The purpose is being completely frustrated.
The Chair cannot assume the date of the replies when accepting questions.
The Committee on Procedure and Privileges——
There is nothing that would guide me in that respect.
(Interruptions.)
I propose to raise on the Adjournment the very serious matter of the closure of the IMP processing plant at Leixlip with the loss of 650 jobs.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I propose to raise on the Adjournment the events surrounding the introduction of the two per cent levy and the refusal of the interests involved to operate the scheme, with the result that the consumer may be forced to pay higher meat prices.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
I propose to raise on the Adjournment the state of disrepair of Redmond Bridge in Waterford.
I will communicate with the Deputy.