Vol. 400 No. 9
82 Mr. Garland asked the Taoiseach regarding Article 20 of An Bhratach Náisiúnta (details supplied) if this limitation as to use is also to apply to the EC flag as implicit in his reply to parliamentary Question No. 62 of 12 June 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
83 Mr. Garland asked the asked the Taoiseach, in view of the fact that the EC flag is not the national flag of another nation, but of a supernational body of which Ireland is a part, his views on whether An Bhratach Náisiúnta cannot adequately deal with the relative positions of the Irish flag and the EC flag and that the only assistance that it can be in the matter is by the assertion in Article 4, when the national flag is carried with another flag or flags, it should be carried in the place of honour, which implies that the Irish flag should be flown in the position of honour relative to the EC flag; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
84 Mr. Garland asked the Taoiseach his views on whether his reply to parliamentary question No. 62 of 12 June 1990, combined with the protocols in An Bhratach Náisiúnta imply that the EC flag should not be flown anywhere without the Irish flag being flown with it, in the position of honour; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 83 and 84 together.
An Bhratach Náisiúnta deals solely with the guidelines for the flying of the national flag, both on its own and alongside other flags. As the guidelines clearly state, the national flag takes precedence over all other flags, including the European Community flag and the flags of all other states.
85 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the formal decisions which have been adopted in Council in the EC during the period of the Irish Presidency in the areas of responsibility covered within the Community by all Government Departments; the nature of those decisions; the subject matter; the form of the decision; when it will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Presidency conclusions on the special meeting here on 28 April of the European Council were circulated at the time to each Deputy and placed in the Library in the usual way and, in my statement in the House on 3 May, I reported in detail on the substantial and positive results achieved.
As regards the regular meeting here of the European Council on 25-26 June, the Presidency Conclusions have already been circulated and I will be reporting to the House tomorrow on the very successful outcome of this meeting.
The Government will be compiling shortly a detailed account of progress made in the different councils during the Irish Presidency and this will be circulated to all Deputies for their information.
