Austin Deasy
Question:4 Mr. Deasy asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the venue and dates of the forthcoming EC Summit; and the specific items directly affecting Ireland which are on the agenda.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Summit.
The next meeting of the European Council will be held in Luxembourg on 28 and 29 June. Bearing in mind the conclusions of the Rome meeting in December last it can be expected that the major part of the discussions at the Luxembourg meeting will be devoted to progress with the internal market and to the Inter-governmental Conferences on Political Union and Economic and Monetary Union. Beyond this, and in accordance with established practice, it would not be appropriate for me to comment in advance on what other issues may be discussed at this meeting.
Will the Taoiseach raise the issue of the plight of Irish agriculture at the summit meeting in view of the fact that it is quite likely that discussions on the reform of the common agricultural policy and the negotiations on GATT might well have concluded by the time the next meeting takes place in December?
As I said, it is likely that other issues will be raised. It is possible that the GATT negotiations will be discussed.
I am asking the Taoiseach specifically whether he will raise the issue of the plight of agriculture in this country if the proposals for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy are as dramatic and as drastic as we are led to believe.
First of all, I cannot decide on the agenda of a Council meeting. That is a matter for the Presidency. However, on previous occasions GATT negotiations have been discussed and that presents an opportunity for any member state to voice any concerns they may have about the outcome of the negotiations.
Is the Taoiseach saying that he has no input to the agenda?
No, I did not say that.
The Taoiseach stated that the President determines the agenda. Is he therefore saying that he has no opportunity to seek to have matters placed on the agenda?
The agenda has already been decided by the Presidency.
In view of the heavy dependance of the Irish economy on agriculture and food, did the Taoiseach seek to have the future of the Common Agricultural Policy placed on the agenda, and, if not, why not?
I do not think it would be very appropriate to have the matter placed formally on the agenda. As I have said, it is likely that the GATT negotiations will be discussed, though there is no particular movement in regard to the GATT negotiations at the moment, so any discussions of that kind would be a little premature.
Why would it not be appropriate?
Questioning may not go on eternally.
The Taoiseach stated that it would not be appropriate to have this matter discussed at the summit. Why would it not be appropriate.
It would not be appropriate because the Presidency has already decided on the major matters to be discussed at the formal Council meeting, general agreement that discussions should be confined to those matters. It is not possible to have every subject discussed at the formal council meeting, although, as I have already indicated, it is not unlikely that the GATT negotiations will come up during the course of the meeting.
So, in the Taoiseach's view, the matter is not important enough for discussion?
No, I did not say that. Of course the matter is important.
It may well be important, but I tell Deputies that they may not debate the matter now; this is Question Time.
I have already told the House that I lose no opportunity — nor do any of my ministerial colleagues — to emphasise the importance of agriculture to the Irish economy in general. That is our practice.
The Taoiseach is losing this opportunity.
I ask the Taoiseach whether there is anything on the agenda pertaining to education. This country has become the provider of top-quality university graduates to other EC countries. Is there any way of pointing out the considerable financial cost and drain to the Exchequer and seeking a reciprocal arrangement to enable additional financing for such third-level activities?
No, the European Council would not be an appropriate forum to do that. There are other Council meetings at which matters of that kind may be raised. The Deputy will understand that the European Council meeting takes place over a very short amount of time and the agenda is tightly controlled and managed. It is not possible for member states to raise all of the various issues that affect them. As I said, the agenda is decided by the Presidency in accordance with the general view of member states as to what are the urgent matters that need to be considered.