Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:6 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Defence if he recently attended an EC council meeting of Defence Ministers; if so, if he will outline the items discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Defence Ministers Meeting.
I have not attended any such meeting. In fact no such meetings have ever been held.
Before the Deputy proceeds, I should have said that these questions we have embarked on are questions nominated for priority for which 15 minutes only is provided in Standing Orders of this House. I need the co-operation of all concerned if I am to dispose of the five questions before us.
Does the Minister not think that it is very unusual that the European Defence Ministers have not met over the past four or five months, since he became Minister, given that there is an intergovernmental conference on European union? When the Minister is attending such a meeting, what line will he be putting forward from the Department of Defence in relation to defence union in Europe?
Meetings of EC Council of Defence Ministers have not been held nor are there any plans for one. The question of defence, or military co-operation falls outside the scope of European political co-operation and of the EC treaties. It is clearly set out in the Single European Act and it is acknowledged by all member states of the European community. Matters relating to common defence security policies and other similar matters are the responsibility of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Minister for Foreign Affairs answered questions on this issue here just about a fortnight ago.
Would the Minister agree that there is a major debate taking place in Europe and that member states have various opinions on the matter? Would the Minister not agree that his Department should see fit to urgently take a view on the matter because it is of national interest and of major political interest? Should the Minister not take a lead and highlight the issue in Europe in relation to our position within the UN?
That is rather a long question.
It is rather a long matter, a Cheann Comhairle.
Unfortunately our time is short.
Does the Minister not think he should be raising Ireland's position within the UN, the relationship of the UN with NATO and the overall relationship of the EC with the Western European Union?
All the matters of Government policy relevant to this whole area have been enunciated here in the House on several occasions and in November by the Taoiseach. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, who deals with these matters, dealt with that specifically in reply to questions.
There has been no reply from the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Deputy Taylor-Quinn is showing no regard for the appeal I made for co-operation in disposing of the five questions, including many of her own.
I have one more minor supplementary. Would the Minister agree that senior Army personnel believe that they will be part of a common European defence group in the years ahead and that they are now striving to achieve the standards of pay and conditions that their European counterparts enjoy at the moment?
That is another matter.
There is a question tabled on that subject.