Mary Harney
Question:1 Miss Harney asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, the Government is making for the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference on the future of the European Union. [3967/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Intergovernmental Conference on European Union.
The Maastricht Treaty provides that a conference of representatives of the member states of the European Union will be convened in 1996 to examine those provisions of the Treaty for which revision is provided. These provisions include the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the decision making powers of the European Parliament, the Union's legislative procedures and the structure of the Treaty. The 1993 December Brussels European Council and the informal Foreign Minister's meeting in March 1994 agenda added the issues of the relative voting strengths of the member states in the Council and the number of members of the Commission to the agenda of the Intergovernmental Conference. Member states and the commission are free to seek to include other items on the agenda of the Intergovernmental Conference. The agenda will undoubtedly be influenced by the fact that the Intergovernmental Conference will be expected to set down institutional arrangements for a Union considerably enlarged beyond its current complement of 15.
The Treaty provides that the Intergovernmental Conference should convene in 1996 but the precise date has not yet been decided. Preparatory work is underway. At Union level this work currently involves the preparation of separate reports, by the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament, on the operation to date of the Maastricht Treaty. These reports will form an input into the work of the Reflection Group the establishment of which was agreed at the June 1994 Corfu European Council. This group has a mandate to examine and elaborate on ideas for change to the Treaty which could be considered at the Intergovernmental Conference. The Reflection Group will be composed of representatives of Ministers for Foreign Affairs, a representative of the President of the Commission and two representatives of the European Parliament. Ireland will be represented by Deputy Gay Mitchell, the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs. The group will officially commence its work in June next under Spanish chairmanship.
The preparation of Irish policy positions on the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference is being co-ordinated by the interdepartmental European co-ordination committee. This committee is chaired by Deputy Michell in his capacity as Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs in my Department. A sub-group of the committee has been established to deal specifically with preparations for the Intergovernmental Conference.
The Government will make the final decision in regard to Ireland's position on the items arising at the Intergovernmental Conference. Our general approach to the Intergovernmental Conference negotiations will be to equip the Union institutionally and otherwise to meet the challenges of the 21st century, including further enlargement, and in the process to ensure that Ireland's vital national interests are fully protected. Specific Irish policy positions on which work is already under way will be developed by the Government as the agenda emerges. I would, however, like to make the following points at this stage: the balance between the large and small member states and between the institutions of the Union in the Community under the present Treaty provisions has served both Ireland and the Union well; in line with our commitment in the policy agreement, A Government of Renewal, we will put any outcome that would involve Ireland's participation in a common defence policy to the people in a referendum; Ireland will oppose proposals which suggest that the smaller member states should forego their commissioner or should share commissioner posts on a rotating basis; a single speed approach to further European integration should be maintained as far as possible; there may however continue to be instances, such as with economic and monetary union, which would permit a differential approach, in terms of timing, to a common objective; the question of the democratic legitimacy of the Union will have to be addressed at the Intergovernmental Conference but not in a way that would adversely affect the positions of small states or dilute the power of the Commission.
Ireland will hold the Presidency of the EU in the second half of 1996. The Intergovernmental Conference is due to be in session during this period and Ireland will therefore be chairing the conference at that time. The Government will ensure that the ongoing planning for the smooth operation of our Presidency will encompass our responsibility for participating in and chairing the Intergovernmental Conference.
I welcome the Taoiseach back and I am delighted he has recovered from his recent illness. While I accept what he said about Ireland joining a common defence pact — that it would be put to a vote of the people — does he believe that we need a common European defence arrangement and that Ireland should be part of it?
The more rapidly one moves towards political union it is implicit that one must consider the question of defending whatever political achievement has been gained. The Government is committed to ensuring that any decision on that matter, in the final analysis, will be for the people.
How will the Government arrive at this view in relation to the issue?
The matter will require much careful thought by all the members of the Government. Each of the parties composing the Government will have their own insights to contribute to the discussion but it is clearly the case it is in the interests of the European Union that it should function in a consensual way and that Ireland should contribute towards consensus building within the Union. That will be the approach of our endeavours in this regard. There are a huge number of issues liable to be considered at the Intergovernmental Conference and the question of defence is only one of those.
I welcome the Taoiseach back to the House.
Thank you.
I am sure the Taoiseach is aware that the Swedish Government has reaffirmed its commitment to military neutrality and that the British Government has submitted a paper to NATO envisaging continuing neutrality by certain European Union countries. In this regard, will the Taoiseach take into account the long term interests for this country and will he agree we should not forego our neutrality, particularly if options are being considered that would be useful for Ireland even at this stage?
It really all depends on what way the European Union will develop. Will it become a political Union or will it be a loose confederation of states? Clearly, in the latter case there is no need to consider defensive arrangements but, as I indicated in my reply to Deputy Harney, the more closely federalised the European Union becomes, the greater the obligation to consider issues that might not have to be considered in another context. The policy of neutrality has served this country well in many respects and it is not something to be lightly cast aside. The fact that the Government specifically committed itself to making no change in this policy without the agreement of the people in a referendum is testament to the Government's recognition of that. I thank the two Deputies for their good wishes.
Before proceeding, may I remind the House of the time factor involved in dealing with questions to the Taoiseach on Tuesdays? A substantial amount of that time has already been eroded and 30 minutes only are provided for under Standing Orders.
I also welcome the Taoiseach back to the House. I wish to ask him three questions on the common defence policy. First, are there any proposals before the Government to join the NATO partnership for peace? The Tánaiste made a number of statements recently in which he appears to be nudging us towards a formal alliance with NATO. Second, I accept we have had a number of elitist type seminars for specialists in the field of European affairs recently but are there any proposals to inform the general public on what the Government has in mind on the question of a common defence for Europe? Will the Taoiseach agree that there should be a proper debate in this House? Third——
I appeal for brevity, for obvious reasons.
——on the Intergovernmental Conference in 1996, will the Taoiseach agree that one of our key Presidency priorities should be with regard to the developing world, the need to bridge the gap between richer and poorer states and the role that the EU can play in regard to that issue?
Obviously the Chair is not being heeded with respect to brevity.
I agree that our commitment to developing countries is very important in this context and I am pleased that one of the major revisions made by the incoming Government to the Estimates we inherited from the previous Government was the provision of a substantial increase in our bilateral commitment to Third World aid, a clear indication of our commitment in that regard. In regard to the seminars on foreign policy, I gather the composition of these was set at the time the Deputy's party was in Government. The series of seminars was already underway when we came into office so I have no doubt any élitism involved would have been contributed to by the Deputy's own discussions.
I am referring to the follow-up stage.
However, he has made a valid point and I understand from his successor, the Minister of State, Deputy Mitchell, that there has been a substantial input by members of the general public to these seminars. I agree with the Deputy that we should try to involve more members of the public in these seminars. One of the lessons of the difficulties in other countries in regard to the Maastricht Treaty was the perception that the public had not been involved in the process. I agree with the Deputy also that there should be debates on the matter here in the House. One of the ways in which the public can be informed is through political controversy on the subject. I hope, for example, that when I return from the next summit we will have a fairly full discussion on the issues at that stage.
What about the NATO partnership for peace?
That is a separate question that should be addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. We are talking here about the Intergovernmental Conference and the matter the Deputy refers to has nothing to do with that. I suggest he puts down a separate question on that subject.
Will the Taoiseach state clearly that his Government will totally oppose any situation which would leave Ireland without an EU Commissioner?
Yes, we will totally oppose it. I have already said that.
While I accept that this is only one of the issues that will be raised at the Intergovernmental Conference, given that Ireland is chairing the conference and the difficulties that exist within the Government and the country on this issue, does the Government intend putting forward a view in advance of that conference?
Yes, we will be putting forward a Government view on the subject.