Vol. 403 No. 6
8 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the timetable for the establishment of a CSCE Parliamentary Assembly as proposed in the deliberations of the recent Summit of the Conference on Security and Co-Operation in Europe.
No specific timetable has been agreed for the establishment of the proposed CSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The recent CSCE Summit meeting in Paris approved in principle the establishment of such a body. However, some delegations, notably that of the United States, took the view that further discussion of the field of activities, working methods and rules of procedure of such a CSCE parliamentary structure should take place at parliamentary level and involve the parliaments of the participating states. At the Paris meeting the Spanish Prime Minister conveyed an invitation from the Spanish Parliament for a meeting of parliamentarians to take place in Madrid in the first half of 1991. If this invitation is accepted, this will provide the opportunity for further discussions among parliamentarians. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the 34 CSCE-participating states will review the matter on the occasion of their first meeting as a Council, which will take place in Berlin in June next year.
The Government have favoured both the creation of a new Parliamentary Assembly and also proposals that have been put forward that they should draw on the experience and infrastructure of the existing Council of Europe Assembly in Strasbourg. While it would have a separate identity from the Council of Europe Assembly, we see merit, for a number of practical reasons, in drawing as far as possible on the experience of the Council of Europe and on its resources.
I take it from the Minister's reply that the Irish Government will now actively pursue the concept of a Parliamentary Assembly, as reported to us in the House last week by the Taoiseach? May I ask the Minister, strictly in his capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs, if he does not feel this House will have to develop a forum for discussing foreign affairs matters? If a parliamentary tier or assembly, as proposed by the CSCE, is to be set up, if we are to be constructive participants, would he not agree that we will need a foreign affairs committee, and that in the absence of such a foreign affairs committee it would be quite pointless for us, as a Parliament, to offer to participate in the CSCE Parliamentary Assembly, as described by the Taoiseach last week?
The answer to the first part of Deputy Spring's question is "yes". In regard to the second part of his question, I certainly see from the way developments are taking place that there will be greater need for involvement of all parliamentarians in the issues that will come up for discussion. I would welcome in this House, on a regular basis, whether that be forthnightly or monthly, opportunities to come into this House for a discussion in which all Members could participate and indeed also to oblige in the other House. I would be prepared to do that. I said this before and I mean it. It so happens that Foreign Ministers have a certain amount of travelling they must undertake. If I cannot participate then my Minister of State or another member of the Government representing him will be glad to do so. There is a need for all our parliamentarians to be fully involved. This was clearly seen when parliamentarians represented the group of countries involved at the meeting in Rome last week when we discussed European Community matters. This is wider. This is CSCE with 34 participating states. We are talking about extremely important business. I will give the House a commitment to come in here on a regular basis and have open discussion available to everybody on the matter.
May I attempt to push the Minister somewhat further? In so saying I want to compliment the Minister on having been forthright in all of the discussions that have taken place since he assumed his present office. Could we give him one last push and endeavour to get agreement within the House for a foreign affairs committee, which would be the proper forum and which, I believe, would be of assistance to both the Minister and Department of Foreign Affairs, given the complexities and developments that have taken place worldwide? There is no better man than the Minister to appreciate the amount of travelling, discussions and meetings that have to be attended from his experience over the past three years. Therefore he will readily appreciate that this House and parliamentarians here could be of assistance and, I believe, would approach problems worldwide in a very constructive manner. At this stage could we not seek agreement to set up such a foreign affairs committee?
I will go even further than Deputy Spring and say that, if we can get agreement between the Whips to nominate a particular Friday on a monthly basis, we will ask Members of the Oireachtas who are interested to participate in such discussions.
Perhaps the Minister would clarify one point he made in the course of his reply. By the way, I wrote to the Taoiseach six or eight months ago — and despite two reminders I have not had a reply — suggesting a formula for the establishment of a foreign affairs committee of this House. Perhaps the Minister might prod him to reply to me. I understood the Minister to say that he thought the most suitable body to be the Parliamentary Assembly of the CSCE might be the Council of Europe. I do not know whether he means the actual members or the physical building?
I do not mean the building because one can get a building anywhere. As I said, the Government favour involving the Council of Europe as far as possible in the new CSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Along with our partners in The Twelve we will put forward proposals to that effect. However, it is a matter that will have to be considered by parliamentarians and, subsequently, by the Foreign Ministers of the 34 participating states. Since consensus will be required, as I have said already in reply to Deputy Spring and since there is opposition in some quarters to the idea, I am not in a position to assure the House that the new body will be linked to the Council of Europe. We are using it as an exceptionally useful model. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience there that would benefit the entire process. I think everybody would agree with that. However, there are some problems to be resolved. Perhaps when we get an opportunity of discussing this again at EC ministerial level in June next some of the problems may have been resolved in the meantime.
While awaiting the establishment of a foreign affairs committee and this Parliamentary Assembly can the Minister assure the House that the only body available to us, that is the Joint Committee on Secondary Legislation of the EC will be allocated proper resources so that Members of this House can discuss these matters more fully because at present the committee is underfunded and understaffed?
I genuinely feel my generosity is being stretched to the limit by Deputy Owen. The Deputy can rest assured, as I said in reply to Deputy Spring, that I would be prepared to recommend to the Government, to our Party Whip, that we meet in this House regularly each month on a Friday of any week on which we can agree to discuss these matters, thereby affording all Members an opportunity of participating in such dissussion.
We do not get the back-up as Opposition members. In a committee we get the papers and information——
With experience you will overcome these difficulties.
Let us have another question.
The Minister has the staff to back him up——
Mind you they are fairly generous to Deputy Owen, as she knows.
We need some spare staff in that situation.
