asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the attitude of Ireland towards the application of Turkey to join the EC.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Membership for Turkey.
11.
Turkey formally applied for membership of the Communities on 14 April 1987. The Foreign Affairs Council, at its meeting on 27 April 1987, decided to refer the application to the Commission for an opinion in accordance with the terms of Article 237 of the EC Treaty. The Commission is currently considering the application and in due course will give its opinion which will be taken fully into account by the Government.
That is the history of events. However, will the Minister answer the question I have asked?
The Minister has not done that today.
Today is his day off.
The Government will consider the position in the light of the Commission's opinion when it is issued. As the Tánaiste has indicated to the Turkish Foreign Minister when he met him at the United Nations General Assembly in September, Ireland will attach weight to that opinion.
The Minister for Justice, representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, has said in his reply that the opinion of the Commission has been sought. I ask specifically whether that opinion includes matters of human rights and if, as the question asks, whether Ireland's attitude towards Turkey's application will take into consideration the reports of international bodies on the position of human rights in Turkey?
As I have already said to Deputy Barry in reply to his question, the procedure for dealing with applications for membership is laid down in Article 237 of the Treaty. It would be very unwise of any Government to anticipate the outcome of this procedure.
My question is very simple. Is the issue of human rights in Turkey being considered by the Irish Government or not?
We are having repetition.
I will send the Deputy a copy of Article 237 of the EC Treaty.
I have already read that.
Will the Minister state whether the Government have any views of their own on the matter, or are they just waiting for the EC Commission's view on Turkey's application?
The Deputy has to be reminded that the procedure for dealing with applications for membership is laid down in Article 237, and until such time as that opinion is available, the Government will not say what their opinion is. This is the normal way of doing things.
Could the Minister tell us the proposed date for receipt of the Commission's opinion and when the Council of Ministers will consider it? Given the hypothesis that both those bodies may be in favour of Turkey's application, what is their likely entry date to the Communities?
I understand this varies and I think Deputy Barry will agree with me when I remind him that in the case of Greece it took approximately one year to have the application processed, but in other cases it took longer, for instance, our own application took longer. I hope that the opinion of the Commission, which is required under Article 237, will be forthcoming as early as possible.
In view of the fact that the Minister and indeed the House have quite clearly expressed concern about violations of human rights in Iran, will the Minister not put on record his concern about human rights violations in Turkey?
That is a separate question and I will be glad to deal with it at another time.