Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Nov 1992

Vol. 424 No. 9

Written Answers. - Western European Union Meeting.

Patrick McCartan

Question:

42 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland was represented at the meeting of the Western European Union in Rome on 16 July 1992; the purpose of the meeting; if the meeting discussed Ireland's relationship with the Western European Union; if the Government has received from the Western European Union any definition or explanation of the term observer status; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

A meeting of the Western European Union with the representatives of prospective members, associate members and observers took place in Rome, under Italian chairmanship, on 16 July. Ireland was represented by officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The purpose of this meeting was to initiate discussions between the Western European Union and prospective members, associate members and observers, following the extension of invitations to enter such discussions by the German Foreign Minister, on behalf of the Western European Union, on 30 June.

At the meeting on 16 July, the Western European Union indicated that the basis on which these invitations had been extended was set out in the Declaration of the Western European Union Ministers issued at Maastricht on 10 December last year, and their later Declaration issued in Bonn on 19 June 1992. In their Declaration at Maastricht, the member states of the Western European Union had proposed that member states of the European Union be invited to accede to the Western European Union or become observers. The Irish delegation made clear the Government's position that they did not intend to accept the invitation to become a member of the Western European Union but that they did see advantages in attending Western European Union meetings as observers.

These advantages, which I have already described to the House, were set out in the Government's White Paper on the Treaty on European Union. Attendance as observers would ensure that Ireland is fully informed of developments within the Western European Union which might have a bearing on discussions in the European Union. It would better enable the Government to decide on any proposal in the European Union on the reference to the Western European Union of matters which have defence implications. And it would enable Ireland to follow the subsequent course of discussions in the Western European Union.

The Government have also made clear their position that attendance as observers at the Western European Union would not require Ireland to take up any obligations under the Brussels Treaty establishing the Western European Union, or to subscribe to policy positions or platforms adopted by the Western European Union. Ireland would not become a party to the Western European Union or undertake any mutual defence commitments or military obligations under the Western European Union.

The discussions which commenced in Rome on 16 July are continuing. I would expect, however, that they will be concluded satisfactorily in the relatively near future, and that the Government's position, as I have outlined it above, will be fully accepted by the Western European Union.