Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Mar 1992

Vol. 416 No. 6

Written Answers. - Maastricht Treaty Proposals.

Enda Kenny

Question:

133 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Finance the steps he intends to take to ensure that the European Community adopts a positive and pro-active economic policy to promote economic growth combined with real increases in employment within the context of economic and monetary union as agreed at Maastricht; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Finance (Mr. B. Ahern)

Among the objectives of the Community under the new Treaty on European Union are the promotion of sustainable and non-inflationary growth and a high level of employment. Under the Treaty, member states are to conduct their economic policies with a view to contributing to these and other objectives of the Community.

Community policies are already making a substantial contribution to Ireland's growth and employment performance. Under the Structural Funds, for example, the Community is providing a substantial volume of support for the development of our economic infrastructure, an activity which is of vital importance if we are to combat successfully the disadvantages inherent in our peripheral location. The Community is also supporting our efforts to deal directly with the unemployment situation, for example, through its involvement in co-financing the recently announced initiatives on the training front.

It is my intention to continue to avail of every opportunity to impress upon my colleagues in the other member states the need for their every action to support the growth and employment objectives set out in the Treaty. However, while Community support is important, our economic well-being and employment prospects are in the long-run determined primarily by domestic policies and actions.