andMrs. Owen asked the Taoiseach when it is proposed to initiate the measures needed to establish the Anglo-Irish Interparliamentary Body, as envisaged in Article 12 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement 1985; if he will outline the procedures which will be followed in setting up this body; if he can give details of the scope and functions of this body; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Anglo-Irish Interparliamentary Body.
1.
At our meeting on 6 November 1981, the Prime Minister and I agreed to endorse the recommendation of the Anglo-Irish Studies Report, initiated at the December 1980 meeting between my predecessor, Deputy Haughey, and the Prime Minister that it would be for the Parliaments concerned to consider at an appropriate time whether there should be an Anglo-Irish body at parliamentary level to consider how the parliamentary links between the two countries might most appropriately be developed as the natural and desirable complement to the establishment of the inter-governmental council.
As envisaged in the joint report, the parliamentary body would be constituted through an Anglo-Irish parliamentary committee as a natural development of the existing rather loosely structured, Anglo-Irish parliamentary group. Members of the committee could be drawn, not only from Dáil Éireann and the House of Commons but also from other representative bodies including the European Parliament, the House of Lords and Seanad Éireann.
In the joint studies the Irish official representatives saw the body as providing a forum for the participation of representatives from Northern Ireland in proportion to the size of the different parts of the community there.
The Irish side saw the ambit and purposes of the body as corresponding to those of the inter-governmental council. Its functions would be essentially consultative, advisory and review in nature. It could discuss the activities of the council and review the work of ancillary bodies, on the basis, but not exclusively so of an annual report from the inter-governmental council
It was to these considerations that Article 12 of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, 1985, referred when it stated that the two Governments agree that they would give support as appropriate to such an inter-parliamentary body if it were to be established.
Following discussions with the Leader of the Fianna Fáil Party, I now wish formally to indicate in the House the Government's readiness to support arrangements of the type suggested in the joint report and to encourage measures, with the British authorities, leading to the establishment of a body, along the lines and with the functions indicated in the joint report. I would suggest that so far as the Dáil and Seanad are concerned discussions should proceed through the normal channels.
Can the Taoiseach give any indication of how soon this whole process will begin and when can we see some progress on it?
Following consultations I have had with the Leader of the Opposition, and in the knowledge that there is considerable interest in the idea of proceeding along these lines in the British Parliament, I hope that action will be taken to establish this body relatively rapidly.
Would the Taoiseach envisage that when this body has been set up it would have power to call Ministers from both the British and the Irish Governments to address that body and to answer questions?
That was not envisaged in the joint studies. There could be difficulties about an international body having such powers. The question of whether Ministers would attend on occasions would be a matter for the Ministers themselves.
In his reply the Taoiseach stated that consideration may be given to Members of the European Parliament and the House of Lords. I take it that is not envisaged at this stage.
I was quoting from the joint studies prepared following the 1980 meeting between the then Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister in which these possibilities were set out. After the November 1981 meeting between the Prime Minister and myself a communique stated that membership could be drawn from the Oireachtas, from the British Houses of Parliament, the European Parliament and an Assembly in Northern Ireland, should one be established. The position at the moment is that the two Parliaments, Westminster and Dublin, are the two bodies from which it seems to me likely that the membership of the body would be drawn.
Can the Taoiseach confirm whether there is a proposal to establish a committee of the British House of Commons to examine the implications of this parliamentary tier? Can he say whether such a sub-committee have been established, whether they have reported and whether it is possible that a similar type of examination would be undertaken here?
There is a motion in the name of a Private Member, described as an "Early Day Motion", which has not been debated or discussed so far. It is not clear whether the terms of such a motion is the manner in which the British House of Commons would proceed. It is not clear whether the matter would be dealt with through the usual channels.
I take it that this parliamentary tier will be established by the Members of the Parliaments concerned and not by the Governments. The Taoiseach spoke of a review of ancillary bodies. What exactly did he mean in that regard?
We are talking about an inter-parliamentary body which could only be established by the Parliaments. The parties who are members of the Governments of the two countries indicated in the recent Anglo-Irish Agreement that there would be support for such a move in the Parliaments. I am satisfied that in both Parliaments there is support for this proposal. Both Parliaments, therefore, are likely to wish to proceed through their own channels, with the support of the two Governments.
The Taoiseach mentioned ancillary bodies.
That is a reference back to where it was said that the body could discuss the activities of the council and review the work of ancillary bodies which were not then specified. I take it that amongst the bodies whose work will be reviewed is the work of the inter-governmental conference.