asked the Taosieach the steps which he and his Ministers will take to co-ordinate measures which facilitate and promote the completion of the internal market of the European Community by the target date of 1992.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - European Community Internal Market.
1.
The measures necessary at Community level for the purposes raised by the Deputy are co-ordinated by the Internal Market Council on which Ireland is represented by the Minister for Industry and Commerce, who co-ordinates Irish positions for meetings of this council.
As regards the steps necessary at national level, the Government are considering the special administrative arrangements needed to co-ordinate adaptation to the single European market and the parallel deployment of the increased receipts expected from the EC Structural Funds in the framework of the cohesion objectives of the Single European Act and the implementation of the Programme for National Recovery. We will be seeking discussions shortly with the European Commission with a view to ensuring that the work of the Services of the Commission and the action we take in Ireland are co-ordinated as effectively as possible for the same purposes.
As indicated by the Minister for Industry and Commerce in reply to questions on 2 March last, the Government will be initiating shortly a campaign to make the various economic sectors in Ireland aware of the challenges and opportunities implied by the 1992 deadline and to promote the taking of the necessary preparatory steps by these sectors.
Do I understand the Taoiseach as saying that the Government are considering setting up another committee?
No, we are just considering how the whole approach can best be co-ordinated. We have a number of mechanisms already in place. We are just having another look to see in what way overall co-ordination can best be effected.
Will the Taoiseach not agree that this shows a remarkable lack of concern about the imminence of a very important matter for this country, the deadline of 1992 for the completion of the internal market, that this has been signalled since the passing of the legislation in this House in January 1986 as something that needs to be done, and that a much more urgent approach than the one indicated by the Taoiseach today is needed? Will the Taoiseach consider setting up an all-party committee of Members of this House, plus the industrial, trade union, education and farming interests to see if we can identify the problems that need to be solved and do something urgently to solve them? There are only three more Community budgets before the internal market is completed.
I do not at all accept the inherent criticism in the Deputy's supplementary. It is the sort of carping criticism in which the Deputy continually engages in this House.
And will continue to engage in until I am satisfied.
(Interruptions.)
Order, let us hear the Taoiseach's reply.
I did not interrupt the Deputy. It is absolutely ridiculous to suggest that there is a lack of concern in this matter by the Government. We have been following it assiduously and, in fact, it was only after the Brussels meeting that we could seriously plan our approach because we did not know exactly what form things would take until those decisions were taken in Brussels.
Yes, you did.
If the Deputy is going to draw me into this sort of argument I would have to go back and discuss clearly the ridiculous way in which he approached the whole Community.
(Interruptions.)
The interruptions must cease. The Deputy has asked a question and he should be good enough to listen to the reply.
When I came into Government I set up, under a Minister of State in my own Department, a special co-ordinating office which is the sort of thing that never existed before under the previous Administration.
It would have been there but for the Taoiseach's performance in 1986.
We had a complete system of co-ordination already in operation for dealing with all Community matters. Following the decision in Brussels in which the go-ahead was given for the completion of the internal market we are reviewing all aspects of the matter to see what further administrative measures inside or outside the public service are necessary.
Does the Taoiseach think that there will be a fully harmonised internal market in 1992 as envisaged by the European Commission?
Yes, I have every confidence that there will be. The very important step we are taking is so that we can be certain we are on the right track. We will enter the discussions with the Commission as soon as they are ready to do so to make sure that our efforts are fully understood by them and co-ordinated with the work they are doing for the completion of the market.
Do I take it from that the Taoiseach expects full harmony in the matter of purchase taxes in the Community?
We are talking about the harmonisation of the internal market. That is a different matter.
Will the Taoiseach not agree that the harmonisation of taxes is declared by the Commission to be an integral part of the creation of an internal market and will he agree that one cannot have a Europe without frontiers if there are differences in taxes?
Ultimately the harmonisation of taxes is the objective but there is a great deal that can be done to complete the internal market in advance of the harmonisation of taxes.
When does the Taoiseach expect taxes to be harmonised?
I want to come to other questions also.
I cannot say.