Martin Cullen
Question:3 Mr. Cullen asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, he has to meet with Mr. Jacques Santer, President of the EU Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3205/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meeting with President of EU Commission.
Approximately a month ago I invited Mr. Jacques Santer, President of the EU Commission, to visit Dublin. The Deputy will appreciate that Mr. Santer, having only recently assumed office, has not yet been able to arrange his full calendar of visits, but I am hopeful that he will take up my invitation at an early date.
I am sure the Taoiseach will accept that the relationship that existed between Mr. Jacques Delors and the previous Taoiseach was of vital importance in securing the type of support Ireland received under the community support framework. Will the Taoiseach agree that it is a matter of the utmost importance that he meet with the new President of the EU as soon as possible? What agenda does the Taoiseach have for such a meeting and does he intend to discuss the question of additionality with regard to the 1994 to 1999 programme?
The House is no doubt aware that Mr. Jacques Santer and I are party colleagues. We have known one another for a number of years in that context and have worked together on a number of European related matters as members of the heads of party of the European Peoples Party. I know Mr. Santer very well and I hope to build on that relationship to secure the maximum benefit for this country. Obviously the meeting I am seeking has not yet been arranged and it would be somewhat premature for me to go into detail about matters that might be discussed at it.
Am I to assume that the Taoiseach has had no communication, contact or discussions with the President in recent weeks? The Taoiseach is indicating that is not correct. Why did the Taoiseach not take the question requesting information on what contact he had in the last six weeks? The question tabled was a simple one, yet the Taoiseach transferred it.
I thought we had moved on from that.
I have had at least three conversations with Mr. Jacques Santer since becoming Taoiseach. There have also been a number of official contacts between our respective offices. I recognise that the relationship between our head of Government and the head of the Commission is a very important relationship for Ireland. It has been traditional European policy here to support and enhance the powers of the Commission in European affairs because of the very good record of the European Commission in supporting the interests of smaller countries, particularly Ireland. The House can be assured that I will do everything in my power to build on the close relationship I enjoy with Mr. Jacques Santer for the benefit of the country.
I welcome the Taoiseach's reply which was excellent. The question was if the Taoiseach had any discussions to date with the current EU Council Presidency and he transferred the question.
The Deputy should not keep coming back to this. There are clearly established procedures in regard to questions taken by my Department and I am following those scrupulously——
Nonsense.
——erring on the side of taking more questions rather than less. The problem is that the Opposition has not learned the job of an Opposition.So far they have not learned how to frame questions properly.
Did the Taoiseach confirm that with the General Office?
I can quite understand that as they are new to their position after seven years in Government and I make no criticism of them.
I would ask——
I will hear no more about this type of question.
I hope you will understand, Sir — I have no wish to be disorderly — that if the Opposition throws accusations at me I am entitled to reply to them.
I accept the Taoiseach will not set out the agenda here but will he accept that the matters to which I have referred, plus the questions of enlargement and where we go from 1999, are issues that should be on an agenda in the near future to establish this country's position after 1999?
Yes, I would.
I advise the House that I shall have to conclude questions to the Taoiseach within the 30 minutes limit, as laid down by our Standing Orders.
In his contacts with Mr. Santer has the Taoiseach taken up the issue of EU funding for Border areas and has he made representations to Mr. Santer in regard to the proportion of funding vis-á-vis Border counties and the six northern counties?
That is a separate matter worthy of a separate question.
I would not have thought so.
Please, Deputy.
It is in relation to the Taoiseach's contacts. The Taoiseach referred to the fact that he had three different contacts.
This question refers to a meeting with a certain personality.The Deputy is raising a very large issue here.
The Taoiseach in response to a supplementary question indicated that he had three contacts with Mr. Santer.
Please, Deputy. If the matter is so important I would much prefer if the Deputy would put down a separate question.
With all due respect, I did but the question was transferred.
That is not my fault.
Does the Taoiseach intend to raise with Mr. Santer the issue of the Intergovernmental Conference to be held during our Presidency and, in particular, the very important issue of neutrality so far as the Irish people are concerned?
We will discuss all the issues relevant to the Intergovernmental Conference.