Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Oct 1984

Vol. 352 No. 8

Appointment of EC Commissioner: Announcement by Taoiseach.

The Taoiseach

I should like to announce for the information of the House that the Government have decided to nominate Mr. Peter Sutherland S.C. for membership of the Commission of the European Communities which is due to take office on 6 January 1985. Mr. Sutherland will be relinquishing his office as Attorney General at an appropriate time before taking up his duties as Commissioner.

Every Deputy will agree that the new Commission will have a most important and exacting task. From having worked with him in Government and knowing at first hand his formidable abilities and skills, I know the Commission will have in Mr. Sutherland a member who will contribute with distinction to promoting the common interests of the Community in a way which will be a source of pride to his country. He is also well qualified to ensure that in reaching their decisions, his colleagues in the Commission have a full appreciation of circumstances in Ireland, North and South. I feel that Deputies will join with me in wishing Mr. Sutherland every success and assure him of their help and support in the discharge of his new responsibilities. As regards the allocation of portfolios, the House will be aware that this is a matter to be decided on by the new Commission.

Before making public the Government's decision, I wrote to the present Irish member of the Commission, Mr. Richard Burke, thanking him, on behalf of the Government and the people, for his services as Commissioner and for his efforts for reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the agricultural sector of our economy which are particularly appreciated. I wish Mr. Burke, his wife and family every happiness in the future.

Mr. Molony

Stop smiling.

Deputy Haughey rose.

An Ceann Comhairle

I called on the Taoiseach to make an announcement. In such a case there would not be any statement from any other Deputy in the House. However, the Taoiseach's intervention went somewhat beyond an announcement and in those circumstances I will give both Deputies Haughey and Mac Giolla an opportunity to intervene if they so wish.

Mr. Haughey

I was informed that the Taoiseach would make a statement.

An Ceann Comhairle

It was an announcement.

Mr. Haughey

I was informed it would be a statement. I am grateful to the Chair for permitting me to reply.

On behalf of my party I wish the newly appointed Irish Commissioner every success in his appointment. As the Taoiseach has pointed out he will, in that appointment, carry very heavy responsibility. He will have very important duties to discharge. We all recognise that the position of Commissioner is not an easy one. At home we all expect the Irish Commissioner to be assiduous in pursuing our national interests any time they may arise in the affairs of the Community. On the other hand, a Commissioner is, by nature of his appointment, expected not to have any particular regard for the interests of his own home country over and above any other particular community preference. A Commissioner is expected to be a Commissioner first and foremost. It is not an easy role for any person to discharge.

I should like to avail of this opportunity to pay a tribute to our outgoing Commissioner, Mr. Richard Burke, who, during his period of office, served the Commission very well and at the same time was able to ensure that Irish interests were not overlooked, to put it mildly. He, with great skill succeeded in discharging both roles honourably and well. The country should be deeply grateful to him for his services as our Commissioner.

While I wish the new Commissioner every success and in so far as we on this side of the House can do anything to make his task easy we will do so, I must voice serious doubts about the appointment. This is not in any way connected or related to the personality of the individual appointed. My understanding is that he is a first-class lawyer with a good reputation as a lawyer. The Taoiseach is making a mistake in appointing someone whose background is exclusively legal. The position of Commissioner is one of the most sophisticated political appointments that could come the way of anyone in this country. By its very nature it calls for a person with political experience, political skill and with a deep knowledge and insight into both domestic and community political activities. I do not think Mr. Peter Sutherland, the Attorney General, has that political equipment or that background of experience which this office calls for. I am sorry to say I feel on this occasion the Taoiseach has permitted his personal friendship to take priority and precedence over the political needs of the situation. Again I emphasise that is not in any way a reflection on the new appointee or on his qualities and capabilities as Attorney General or as a lawyer. I feel I am expressing the doubts and misgivings of many people about this appointment — the appointment of a lawyer who has not been through the political mill to this acutely sensitive political post. I must express that doubt and misgiving while, at the same time on behalf of my colleagues, wishing Mr. Peter Sutherland every success in his appointment even though in our view he will be going into this appointment with very serious disadvantages in no way connected with his personal qualities or capabilities.

Tomás Mac Giolla

I also wish Mr. Peter Sutherland well in his new job as Commissioner. It is a very responsible position and one in which, in order to do well, one would need to be seen to have the full support of the Parliament here but that is not to say that we may not be somewhat critical of the appointment. I submit that someone with a deeper understanding either of industry or agriculture or who is more involved in political or even in commercial life would be able to do the job better. However, we trust that the new commissioner will be given a worthwhile portfolio and that he will do the job to the best of his ability. We congratulate him on his appointment and hope that he will carry out his duties at least as effectively as the last commissioner carried out the task given to him.