Vol. 322 No. 1
asked the Taoiseach if he will be making any references at the forthcoming European Council meeting, which he will be attending, to (i) the proposed settlement of Britain's EEC budgetary contribution and (ii) the effect of the settlement on Ireland's EEC contribution.
3.
asked the Taoiseach if he proposed to indicate the Irish Government's decision on the person to be nominated as Irish member of the EEC Commission for the next four-year term, at the forthcoming European Council meeting; and if, in this context, any indication has yet been given to our EEC partners of the area of policy preferred by the Irish Government for our new Commissioner.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
It would not be in accordance with normal practice to indicate in advance what I may or may not say at the next meeting of the European Council or, at this stage, to give the other information sought.
In respect of the second portion of the question, would the Taoiseach agree that from the accounts given so far of the settlement of Britain's contribution, the implication of that settlement in future years will be a rising contribution from this country? In these circumstances would he agree that it would be important and necessary, from a national point of view, that reference would be made to this aspect of Britain's settlement of their contribution at the next meeting? In relation to Question No. 3, would the Taoiseach agree that, in the present circumstances, the person holding the office of Commissioner to the European Community is holding an office of as much importance to the future of this country as the person holding the office of Taoiseach and would the Taoiseach agree that it is important that at this early stage——
A brief question, please.
Yes. If the Taoiseach has to be brief I suppose I must be a little long-winded to get a brief reply from him.
It is not in order at Question Time.
It is in order that I ask this important question. Because of the importance of that post for the future of our economy, would the Taoiseach agree that, at this early stage, we should now be seeking an important policy area of responsibility and also perhaps at this stage, though not as important that we should be clearing our minds as to who the person to fill that post should be?
Probably it is well known to the Taoiseach who he will be.
First of all, the settlement of British budgetary problems will not be on the agenda or will not be discussed in Venice, but I agree with the Deputy that the implication for us, in monetary terms, is important. We shall have an opportunity of discussing that here on another occasion. When the Deputy was elaborating that the post of President of the Commission——
Commissionership, surely, at this point?
Commissionership. When he was elaborating that this was as important as the Office of the Taoiseach, I was speculating that he might perhaps be considering going on to suggest that I might go myself.
A good idea.
Levity apart——
Question No. 4.
I know a few people who would send the Taoiseach. More than a few.
Levity apart, could I attract the attention of the Taoiseach? Would he agree that it has been the experience of previous Governments that early indication of the area of policy responsibility preferred by the Irish Government is probably the means best conducive to getting an important policy area? Experience has been, in our membership of the Community so far, that we have achieved peripheral area of responsibility in the Commissionship.
The area of responsibility to which the Irish Commissioner would be allocated is of very great importance to us.
Would the Taoiseach agree that early indication of the area of responsibility is the means best conducive to getting an important area rather than simply a token area responsibility, as has been our experience in the past?
We shall endeavour to avoid the mistakes made by the Coalition Government.
Question No. 4. We have spent long enough on this question. One final supplementary, please.
Let the ghost of Deputy Lynch rest.
I want to raise a point of order, which arises out of Question No. 3 and arises further out of Question Nos. 99 and 100 which have been on the Order Paper for the last three weeks and were put down to the Taoiseach three weeks ago.
I am sorry, Deputy. Not at this stage. We are at Question Time. If the Deputy has a point of order to make on the putting down of questions, he can raise it later, but he may not interrupt questions.
It is rather difficult to make my point of order if the Chair interrupts me.
No. I am telling the Deputy that he cannot make a point of order on questions before the questions have even started. Question No. 4.
With due respect, questions have started and at this stage I am raising a point of order which arises from the fact that there are two questions on the Order Paper relative to the same matter which is dealt with in Question No. 3 to the Taoiseach to-day. These questions, Nos. 99 and 100, were put down by me three weeks ago, asking the Taoiseach to outline the Government's attitude to the appointment of the new President to the Commission and also making reference to the appointment of the Irish Commissioner.
The Chair again will point out that we cannot discuss the transfer of questions at this stage.
Surely we are not?
We want to get questions answered, please.
With all respect——
The Chair must be obeyed on this.
With respect, when can I raise this point of order?
The Deputy may raise it at the end of Question Time, if he has a point to raise, and it will be listened to then but not before questions have really started. Question No. 4.
One question occurs to me, a final supplementary.
I have called Question No. 4.
Has the Taoiseach definitely ruled out the nomination of any member of the Cabinet at this point?
I did not hear the question.
The Taoiseach has not got the answer.
I would say the Taoiseach got the message.
Has the Taoiseach definitely ruled out, at this stage the nomination of a member of the Cabinet to the post?
There is hope for us all yet.
I have not ruled out the possibility of nominating anybody. There are some Deputies I would not mind sending to Europe.
There are some who would not mind the Taoiseach's going either.
It would be no harm if we came back to the question. It would be a great relief to the House.
Send them to hell or to Connacht.
