Vol. 408 No. 7
2 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if a date has yet been fixed for the proposed meeting with the British Prime Minister to discuss EC affairs which was announced at the time of the last EC summit in Luxembourg; if he plans to have bilateral meetings with any other EC Heads of Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Details of any meetings of this nature will be announced in advance of the event, in accordance with the normal practice.
Will the Taoiseach outline the purpose of such meetings and if, specifically, he intends to raise with the heads of the Governments concerned the statement made by Mr. Jacques Delors in New York on 24 April when he clearly implied that the European Community intended to use the Western European Union as the basis for defence in Europe? Will this be one of the items on the agenda for such bilateral meetings in view of the ongoing negotiation at IGC level?
It is not customary to go into details of proposed matters to be discussed at meetings of this kind.
The Taoiseach announced that there would be bilateral meetings and it would be a courtesy to the House if he would indicate the areas of concern for the Irish Government with regard to the IGC. I take it that bilateral meetings will be in connection with ongoing matters at the IGC? Perhaps the Taoiseach will take this opportunity to tell us what those areas of concern are.
They do not necessarily have to be matters of concern.
Will the Taoiseach then confine himself to matters of interest? He is aware that the community at large have indicated that they lack the information required to form a view on the matters facing this country. Surely the Taoiseach could take this opportunity to clarify some of those issues which are of interest.
I have given the Deputy a lot of latitude. We are now having repetition.
I have nothing further to add.
Would the Taoiseach give the House an undertaking that no major steps with regard to the European Community which may affect the country for many years to come will be taken without the Dáil and the people being consulted first?
We are having a widening of this question.
All the normal legal and constitutional requirements will be adhered to with regard to any of these matters.
I am aware that the arrangements for a meeting with the British Prime Minister would not be announced in advance but may I ask the Taoiseach if a meeting has been arranged at this stage?
The Deputy should be aware that it was agreed when I met the British Prime Minister in Luxembourg that such a meeting would be held.
