Vol. 428 No. 1
29 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent statements made by the President of the European Parliament, Dr. Egon Klepsch, suggesting that Irish neutrality was out of date; the response, if any, he has made to these comments; if he intends to publicly reject the views expressed by Dr. Klepsch; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The remarks to which the Deputy's question refers were made, in Brussels, in response to questions by journalists, prior to Dr. Klepsch's visit to Dublin on 1 and 2 March.
The position of the Irish Government is clear. Ireland accepts the common foreign and security policy provisions of the Maastricht Treaty, including the relationship that has been established between the European Union and the Western European Union. When the Maastricht Treaty is ratified Ireland will take up its rights as an observer to the Western European Union but it will not be a member of the Western European Union, which remains a separate organisation based on a separate treaty. Any further arrangements agreed at a future review conference will require the unanimous agreement of all member states and will in our case also involve a referendum. The Programme for a Partnership Government makes it clear that this will ensure that Ireland's policy of military neutrality remains unchanged unless the people themselves decide otherwise.
I might add that the Government will approach a future negotiation in the light of values and concerns which we have always brought to bear on the discussion of international security issues. We will also be paying close attention to the experience gained between now and 1996 in implementing the common foreign and security policy defined in Maastricht.
Part of my question relates to whether the Tánaiste has expressed these views to Mr. Egon Klepsch arising from the remarks he made. Did the Minister convey the views he expressed today to Mr. Egon Klepsch when he was in Ireland? Would the Minister agree that Mr. Klepsch, who is President of the European Parliament, had no mandate from that Parliament to express those views. What response, if any, has the Minister received from Mr. Klepsch to any representations he made?
Dr. Klepsch expressed a number of views in response to questions by journalists. His remarks involved no criticism of Government policy but he referred to what he sees as the possible future development of that policy. As far as I am concerned, he is entitled to his views just as is any politician. I do not believe he was expressing a view on behalf of the European Parliament. My responsibility is to state Government policy when required and I am always ready to do so.
I am sure the Minister would agree that Mr. Klepsch is not just any politician; he is a relatively powerful politician, given that he is the President of the European Parliament, restricted and all as the powers of that parliament are. In view of the statement of the Minister that he sees the current policy of traditional military neutrality remaining in place until such time, as he says, the people decide otherwise, will he say what steps the Government proposes to take to develop the debate on the question of Irish neutrality and the role Ireland may play in the future with regard to European security? Would he, for instance, agree to the Government publishing a Green Paper on the possible development of foreign relations between Ireland and the Community and, indeed, the rest of the world?
The common foreign and security policy does not alter Ireland's position outside military alliances. The Twelve will seek to develop systematic co-operation and joint actions on a range of security issues with the emphasis on arms control and non-proliferation; in general on preventive and long term approaches to security. I have not considered the publication of either a Green Paper or an information booklet on neutrality but I suggest to the Deputy that the foreign affairs committee of this House which is about to be set up would be a possible vehicle for discussion. I would welcome any discussion on foreign policy and foreign policy matters.
I hope the foreign affairs committee will address the development of our position vis-á-vis the rest of the world. It would be helpful, however, if the Government published its views on how it sees these relationships developing. In the course of his reply the Minister referred to the fact that we would take up our position as observers in the Western European Union when the Maastricht Treaty is ratified. My understanding is that we have attended Western European Union meetings as observers. Is the Minister telling the House that that practice has ceased until such time as the Maastricht Treaty is ratified?
I explained on 10 February in this House that we became an observer of Western European Union on 20 November last because our interest and observer status derives from the relationship between the European Union and the Western European Union provided for in the Maastricht Treaty. We do not intend fully to exercise our rights as an observer until the Maastricht Treaty is ratified.
That disposes of questions for today.
