Vol. 398 No. 5
3 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps the Government propose in order to initiate an adequate dialogue within the Oireachtas and among the public on the issue of definition of European political union.
4 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will produce a discussion document on the role of Irish neutrality in regard to our foreign policy, in view of the developing debate on European political union; if the Government will consider the establishment of an Oireachtas committee to specifically examine the implications for Ireland of European political union; the various policy options open to us; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
5 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the basic underlying principles of political union which he will be putting forward on behalf of Ireland for the June Summit meeting.
42 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether it is the Government's intention to table a discussion paper on European union at the EC Summit in June.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 42 together.
In confirming its commitment to political union at its special meeting in Dublin on 28 April, the European Council called for a detailed examination by Foreign Ministers of certain issues. These were: the need for possible treaty changes with the aim of strengthening the democratic legitimacy of the union, enabling the Community and its institutions to respond efficiently and effectively to the demands of the new situation, and assuring unity and coherence in the Community's international action.
As well as this examination and analysis, Foreign Ministers are to prepare proposals to be discussed at the next European Council meeting to be held in Dublin in June, with a view to a decision on the holding of a second intergovernmental conference on political union to work in parallel with the conference on economic and monetary union which is to begin in December.
These conclusions of the European Council set the agenda for the work which is to be undertaken within the Community on political union in the immediate future. Procedural arrangements have been worked out to enable the Foreign Ministers to begin this work with a view to the preparation in good time of the report which they are asked to make to the European Council of 25/26 June. Consideration is at present being given to the positions which Ireland should take on the various issues which will arise in discussions on political union and how and when these could best be put forward.
Our full and active membership of the European Community is a central element in our foreign policy and it has not been in any way in conflict with our policy of military neutrality. This is the situation so far as the Community Treaties are concerned. As to the future, we understand that the position of our partners is that they wish to continue their membership of NATO and that they also wish the United States to continue its involvement in European defence through the NATO alliance. Defence and military matters would therefore continue to be discussed in that forum.
Ireland will of course participate fully in the preparatory work which is now beginning with a view to a decision on the holding of an intergovernmental conference on political union. The question of membership by Ireland of the NATO alliance does not however arise.
The Government are satisfied that the Oireachtas will have every opportunity to examine fully the implications for Ireland of political union. I would mention that last week we had a debate in this House on European developments. This debate covered also the conclusions of the special meeting of the European Council of 28 April, including its conclusions on political union. There will of course be other opportunities for similar debates as work on this important subject gets underway. Furthermore, if and when the question of possible treaty changes comes to be considered, then any relevant proposals would be subject to debate in the appropriate instances, with a view to ratification in accordance with our constitutional procedures.
I should like to thank the Minister for a long answer which evaded the kernel of my question. I should like to put the subject matter of my question to the Minister. This evening with others I will be attending a conference in Cork on the democratic deficit and my question related to the democratic deficit. If Ireland is developing a separate position paper on European political union, was the paper developed since last Thursday? If it was developed before last Thursday, why is it that it was not referred to in the speeches of the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs? If the Government have decided that they will continue their unique position of not having a foreign affairs committee to discuss matters, will they respond to my suggestion which I believe was generous, that there should be some kind of informal meeting of the spokespersons on Foreign Affairs in relation to political union? Will the Minister agree that in relation to the Single European Act, the documents prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs were inadequate, too late and largely cosmetic? Is it the Minister's decision that he will only come to the House late in the day when aspects of political union will neither have been discussed by the public nor by the House? Will he agree that that is scandalous?
The Deputy should at least have regard to the reply given by me. That reply dealt specifically with the questions that he and other Members asked. There was no question of evasion in the answers I gave. In an effort to be as helpful as I can to the Deputy, as I always try to be, I should like to tell him that consideration is at present being given to the positions which Ireland should take on the various issues which will arise in discussions on political union and how and when they should be put forward.
The Minister said in Brussels that he was preparing a position paper.
With regard to the second part of the Deputy's supplementary question, I should like to tell him that I am satisfied that the Oireachtas will have every oppportunity to examine fully the implications for Ireland of political union. The Deputy will recall that we had a full discussion on the issue last week. There are ways and means of initiating a debate on any issue in the House. For my part I am more than willing to come to the House to discuss the issues with him and other Members of the Oireachtas if requested to do so.
The Minister has not elaborated on the 26 lines in his 14 page speech delivered on Thursday which dealt with political union. There was no inkling in that speech of the basic principles of political union. Will the Minister explain what the Taoiseach meant when he said in his speech, in the only reference to political union, that there was widespread support for the view that political union must fully respect the principle of subsidiarity? Will the Minister tell the House what the principle of subsidiarity means to him and how it will be enforced in the discussions on political union? I should like to ask the Minister to find some other mechanism other than straight statements in the House to enable us to discuss political union. We need a better opportunity to tease out points rather than making set speeches on the issue. The Minister should not belittle us by saying that we have had plenty of opportunities to discuss this issue. We need a proper debate on the issue and I should like to ask the Minister to put his mind to arranging for that to take place.
As I have said on a number of occasions, I am prepared to facilitate the House on any issue that comes within my responsibility as Minister for Foreign Affairs. Deputy Owen is aware of the rules of the House. If she has a supplementary question to put to the Taoiseach she should put it to him.
I was anxious that the Minister elaborate on what the Taoiseach said in regard to political union.
I would like to return to a specific point I raised in my question. I asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs what he proposes to do to initiate a dialogue among the public. I focused on that in my first supplementary when I referred to the explanatory documentation around the time of the Single European Act which was widely regarded as a cosmetic exercise. Will such a document be prepared and will there be a public discussion? Does the Minister seriously think that the statement last week — when it was suggested and believed that there was no separate Irish position on political union and no paper being prepared — is satisfactory? Since then there was an announcement in Brussels that there is an Irish paper. Why can we not discuss that in this House? Why are we treated so specially that we are to be unique in the Community in not having a foreign affairs committee or debates on these matters in the House?
This is tending towards debate rather than questions. This matter may not be debated here today.
There are two parts to the Deputy's question. The first sought adequate dialogue within the Oireachtas and the second dealt with seeking dialogue among the public. I cannot accept that there has been a lack of public debate on the question of political union. As I said, the Government have given — and will continue to give — this House an adequate opportunity to discuss developments within the Community, including proposals for political union.
The Minister does not really mean that.
In addition to dialogue in this House there has been considerable media coverage of the events surrounding the special European Council and its commitment to achievement of political union. I am trying to be helpful to Deputy Higgins. I have just come back from Brussels, having been there for the last two days, and I am not aware of anybody with responsibility making a statement that there is an Irish paper on the issue.
A final question from Deputy Owen.
Will the Minister inform the House what basic principles of political union he put forward at the meeting over the last two days? Will he give us an inkling of what he said on our behalf?
Deputy Owen should remember that the subject——
Answer the question.
If the Deputy wants me to answer it I will. Deputy Owen should be aware that the meeting held in Dublin on 28 April discussed political union which arose from two submissions before us for consideration. One came from the Belgian Government and the other by way of a joint letter from Chancellor Kohl and President Mitterrand. No other member state put forward any suggestions on their views on political union. We have had submissions from three of the Twelve, others are considering the matter and, when they are in a position to do so, the other nine — including Ireland — will put forward their suggestions for consideration.
Will the Minister let us in on the secret?
Let us now proceed to other questions.
On a point of order——
Deputy Quinn on a point of order.
In view of the diplomatic evasion and unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's replies, I seek your permission to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will be in touch with the Deputy concerning that request.
