Vol. 425 No. 7
62 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland has now taken up observer status at the Western European Union; if so, the implications for Irish foreign policy of this status; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
67 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of occasions in 1992 on which Ireland sent observers to meetings of the Western European Union; whether he intends to continue with such attendances; the value, if any, which they have been; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
76 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ireland's role and functions as an observer at meetings of the Western European Union; and whether Ireland will offer views and opinions at these meetings.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 67 and 76 together.
In December 1991 the nine member states of the Western European Union issued an invitation to the other members of the European Union — that is Denmark, Greece and Ireland — to accede to the Western European Union or to become observers. The background to this invitation has been set out in previous replies and the implications were described in the White Paper on the Maastricht Treaty published last year. Following discussions and negotiations with the Western European Union, Ireland became an observer at a meeting of the Western European Union Ministerial Council in Rome on 20 November 1992. At the same meeting, Denmark became an observer and Greece became a full member of the Western European Union. I have arranged for a copy of the Declaration on Western European Union Observers adopted at the Rome meeting to be placed in the Library of the House.
As an observer to the Western European Union, we will be able to attend meetings of the Western European Union Council at ministerial and official level, to attend meetings of Western European Union working groups and to speak at any of these meetings if we so wish. I can assure the House that any contributions we make to Western European Union meetings will reflect the values and principles which have traditionally guided our international security policy, that is to say the priority of using peaceful means to settle disputes, the importance of political mechanisms for crisis management and conflict prevention, and the need for disarmament and non-proliferation.
The decision to take up observer status at the Western European Union was prompted by the new relationship between the European Union and the Western European Union provided for in the Maastricht Treaty. The Government decided that Ireland should become an observer to the Western European Union so that we might be fully informed on developments in Western European Union that might have a bearing on discussions within the European Union. Because our interest in observer status derives from the relationship between the European Union and the Western European Union established in the Maastricht Treaty, we do not intend fully to exercise our rights as an observer until the Maastricht Treaty is ratified.
Ireland attended two meetings of the Western European Union in 1992: one in July at which the Western European Union enlargement negotiations were formally opened; the second in November at which negotiations were concluded.
Observer status in the Western European Union has no implications for our traditional policy as a country outside military alliances. As an observer, we are not required to become a member of the Western European Union, to take up any obligations or defence commitments under the Treaty establishing the Western European Union or to subscribe to policy positions or platforms adopted by the Western European Union. The Programme for a Partnership Government states clearly that Ireland will not be a member of the Western European Union and also that Ireland's policy of military neutrality will remain unchanged, unless the people themselves decide otherwise.
I endorse the decision to attend the Western European Union as an observer, unlike some of the Minister's colleagues in his own party. Having said that, now that we have taken that decision and are attending and will be offering our views — which is sensible as I am not in favour of an empty chair in any circumstances — does the Minister accept that spells the end of whatever remains or our alleged policy of neutrality?
I do not. It is very clear that the traditional policy of Irish neutrality is intact and, we made clear in the context of the Maastricht debate, it is a matter which will have to be put before the people if changes are to take place.
