Proinsias De Rossa
Question:4 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if he will outline his priorities for the June Summit in Dublin of EC Heads of Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - June EC Summit.
The Deputy might recall, from statements which I have already made in the House, that political union, economic and monetary union, the environment and drugs will be among the main issues for discussion. Beyond this, and in accordance with established practice, it would not be appropriate — nor indeed would it be possible at this stage — to say what other issues will be discussed.
Can I take it that security policy will be one of the aspects of political union which will be discussed? Do the Government intend to present to the House here in advance of the Summit their views on the various aspects of political union?
I am not accepting at all that security aspects of political union will be discussed. As the Deputy is aware, a number of member states have suggested that it is a dimension that should be included at least for discussion but so far nothing has been settled. I indicated here in the Dáil yesterday in answer to a question from Deputy Spring that I would hope to devote some time in the House here to a discussion on European affairs generally before the Dublin Summit.
Is it intended, as was reported in the newspapers, to have a subsequent Intergovernmental Conference on the question of political union where it is being suggested that agreements on changes in the Treaty of Rome will be dealt with? Has the Taoiseach any views to present to the House on this?
No. There is an ongoing discussion in the Community on a number of aspects, the completion of the Single Market, economic and monetary union, political union, developments in Central and Eastern Europe and the Community's relations with the new countries in Central and Eastern Europe. All these things are taking place simultaneously and so far the only concrete decisions in regard to them were taken at the Dublin Summit on 28 April which I fully reported to this House and subsequently to the European Parliament. It was the decision of the Dublin Summit on 28 April to ask the Foreign Ministers to prepare some proposals in connection with political union, and that work is now under way. The proposals by the Foreign Ministers will, in due course, come before the next Dublin Summit. In the meantime I would hope to give the House an opportunity of debating all these aspects sometime, perhaps at the beginning of June.
Why did the Taoiseach not include the Community's position in regard to the world trade talks among the items to be discussed at the Summit, in view of the absolutely crucial importance of the outcome of these talks to the survival of Ireland's major industry, agriculture?
I did not include everything. I included the major issues but of course the handling of the GATT negotiations is really a matter for the Commission and not for the European Council.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that that is precisely the point? There is considerable worry in this country as to the role of Commissioner Frans Andriessen in regard to these matters because of his lacking perhaps the full concern that we have in this country about the necessity of preserving the family farm in view of the predominance of industrial farming in the country which he happens to come from? Would the Taoiseach agree therefore that it would be useful to have a political input from himself on behalf of the Irish Government at the Summit to stress the importance of preserving the family farm?
The Deputy is raising special questions now.
This is uppermost in the minds of the Government at the present time. There are a number of different Ministers and others concerned. The Minister for Agriculture is following events very closely and so are his colleagues in the European Council of Ministers for Agriculture. It is a constant item on the agenda there. At the same time the Minister, Deputy O'Malley, in his capacity as trade Minister is very much involved at present in the Community negotiating position and of course it just so happens by good fortune, or by brilliance and judgment on my part, whichever way the Deputy likes to look at it, we have Deputy MacSharry as Commissioner for Agriculture in charge of these negotiations on behalf of the Commission.
This is a quite unsatisfactory reply.
That may be so, Deputy. I am not responsible for replies of that kind. I am calling on Deputy De Rossa for a final supplementary.
The Taoiseach should take an interest himself.
Perhaps the Deputy should put a question down to the Taoiseach on the matter. Does the Taoiseach intend to have the question of sanctions on South Africa raised and reaffirmed at the Summit in view of the growing concern that a number of member states are weakening in their resolve in that regard pending real and tangible progress in South Africa?
I can assure the Deputy that the question of sanctions is constantly on the agenda of the Foreign Ministers Council, and the Deputy is aware of both our national position in that regard and our position in the Presidency. The subject is fairly constantly under discussion in that council. It may be on the agenda for the Dublin Summit or it may not. It depends on the outcome of the Foreign Ministers' deliberations on it. I would also remind the Deputy that we hope to hear personally from Nelson Mandela on 2 July in this House on the issue.
I appeal to the Taoiseach to seriously consider raising the situation of agriculture in the world trade talks at the Summit.
It is almost certain it will be raised.
Could I ask if the Taoiseach will raise it himself? There is no country to whom it is more important than Ireland.
The Taoiseach is the President. He should not be afraid of them. They will listen to him.
It is something to which we devote daily attention.
It is an opportunity.
It is dealt with by the Minister for Agriculture and Food at the Agriculture Council and by the Minister for Industry and Commerce in the Trade Council and, of course, it is constantly looked at and kept in mind by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the General Affairs Council and by myself in my capacity as President.
At the Summit?