Vol. 412 No. 3
11 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg draft EC Treaty revision to introduce qualified majority voting, instead of unanimity, in the EC Council of Ministers in regard to each of the following (a) energy (b) trans-European networks (c) competitiveness of industry (d) tourism (e) consumer protection (f) health protection (g) civil protection (h) culture and (i) development co-operation.
17 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg draft EC Treaty revision to introduce qualified majority voting, instead of unanimity, in the EC Council of Ministers in regard to each of the following (a) energy (b) trans-European networks (c) competitiveness of industry (d) tourism (e) consumer protection (f) health protection (g) civil protection (h) culture and (i) development co-operation.
18 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg Draft Treaty on the Union of the European Community that there be unanimous voting in regard to proposals concerning the system of own resources of the European Communities.
21 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg Draft EC Treaty revision to introduce qualified majority voting, instead of unanimity, in the EC Council of Ministers in regard to each of the following (a) energy (b) trans-European networks (c) competitiveness of industry (d) tourism (e) consumer protection (f) health protection (g) civil protection (h) culture and (i) development co-operation.
30 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg Draft Treaty on the Union of the European Community that there be unanimous voting in regard to proposals concerning the system of own resources of the European Communities.
52 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg Draft Treaty on the Union of the European Community that there be unanimous voting in regard to proposals concerning the system of own resources of the European Communities.
82 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg draft EC Treaty revision to introduce qualified majority voting, instead of unanimity, in the EC Council of Ministers in regard to each of the following (a) energy (b) trans-European networks (c) competitiveness of industry (d) tourism (e) consumer protection (f) health protections (g) civil protection (h) culture and (i) development co-operation.
88 Mr. Doyle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the Dutch Presidency proposals to the Intergovernmental Conference on European Political Union in relation to changes in the voting procedures used in the Council of Ministers.
96 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg Draft Treaty on the Union of the European Community that there be unanimous voting in regard to proposals concerning the system of own resources of the European Communities.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 17, 18, 21, 30, 52, 82, 88 and 96 together since they have been put down in similar and in some cases identical terms.
The efficiency and the effectiveness of the Community and its Institutions has been one of the themes running through the negotiations on Political Union. One of the most direct ways of improving the efficiency of decision-making process would be to extend, wherever possible, the use of qualified majority voting in Council of Ministers. However, the negotiations on the voting procedures to be used in the Council of Ministers are still continuing in the Intergovernmental Conference and I will not prejudge the outcome of this issue by commenting on individual areas.
Ireland is willing to study proposals for an extension of qualified majority voting on a case by case basis.
