Vol. 416 No. 6
30 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to make any proposals as to the way in which the financial resources base of the European Community might in future be increased to a level appropriate to a federal union like the United States of America.
39 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to make any proposals as to the way in which the financial resources base of the European Community might in future be increased to a level appropriate to a federal union like the United States of America.
69 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to make any proposals as to the way in which the financial resources base of the European Community might in future be increased to a level appropriate to a federal union like the United States of America.
113 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to make any proposals as to the way in which the financial resources base of the European Community might in future be increased to a level appropriate to a federal union like the United States of America.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 39, 69 and 113 together.
The Deputies are, no doubt, aware that the degree of integration of the European Community at present cannot be compared with that which exists in a mature federation such as the US. As the perception of common citizenship and shared responsibility which is an essential pre-condition for large-scale distribution of resources is not yet established in the Community, it would be premature, at this juncture, to be making proposals for increasing the financial resources base of the Community to a level appropriate to a federal union like the US.
As indicated in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, Irish policy in this area is directed at a progressive extension of the role of the Community budget. The recent proposals in the Delors II package, which envisage an increase in the own resources of the Community from 1.2 per cent of Community GNP now to 1.37 per cent in 1997, are a step in this direction.
