Pat Upton
Question:21 Dr. Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures, if any, he plans to introduce to provide for more transparency in the conduct of policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6762/95]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Foreign Policy.
Ben Briscoe
Question:28 Mr. Briscoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the Government intends to consult political parties in Dáil Éireann, the social partners and other interested groups regarding Ireland's input into the EU's Reflection Group. [6852/95]
Helen Keogh
Question:38 Ms Keogh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the likely date of publication of the proposed White Paper on Foreign Policy. [6854/95]
Michael McDowell
Question:44 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will publish this year the Government's position papers on the matters likely to feature on the agenda of the Inter-Government Conference in 1996. [6860/95]
Pat Upton
Question:46 Dr. Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans, if any, he has to introduce a debate on foreign policy; the measures, if any, he intends to take to facilitate this debate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6760/95]
Noel Ahern
Question:57 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the date on which the White Paper on Foreign Policy will be published; and the way in which he envisages the procedure on decision-making on each of the sections will be followed. [6847/95]
I intend to take Question Nos. 21, 28, 38, 44, 46 and 57 together.
The decision to publish a White Paper on Foreign Policy has been incorporated in the programme for A Government of Renewal as a central element in the Government's wider initiative to bring greater openness and transparency to the way in which Ireland is governed. I am glad that the White Paper has already had an impact on the degree of transparency with which our foreign policy is conducted. The series of White Paper seminars which have just been completed broke new ground, not only in Ireland but in Europe and beyond, in opening up foreign policy to the scrutiny and discussion of the public at large. It is my intention that the White Paper should contain proposals for establishing a permanent framework allowing public access to the formulation of our foreign policy, and work is at present under way on such proposals. Deputies will already be aware of the existence of the Irish Aid Advisory Committee and of my announcement at the Human Rights seminar in Galway that I intend to establish a Standing Committee on Human Rights, involving officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and representatives of the NGOs community. I also refer to my invitation to representatives of the public and NGOs to send in written submissions on matters to be covered by the White Paper. I am pleased to report that over 60 submissions have been received, so far mainly from NGOs.
It is my intention that the White Paper on Foreign Policy should be published in June, although I will not allow its quality to be sacrificed to the need to meet a particular deadline. As I said in the House in January in reply to questions, I intend to bring the White Paper before the House at the earliest possible date following its publication, and I hope that the House will agree to hold a substantial debate on its contents.
I cannot, at this stage, give precise details on the decision-making procedure to be followed in the implementation of the various proposals which will figure in the White Paper. Clearly, the means and timescale of implementation will vary according to the proposal in question. Furthermore, while it may be possible to implement certain proposals by Government decision or through national legislation, the achievement of many of our foreign policy goals will require the agreement of other states.
In addition to debating the White Paper, I expect that, during this year, the House will have the opportunity to discuss specific elements of foreign policy, in particular matters relating to the European Union. There will also be detailed discussions on a whole range of foreign policy issues in the Oireachtas Joint Committees on Foreign Affairs and European Affairs.
European affairs and, in particular, Ireland's approach to next year's European Union Intergovernmental Conference, will be among the central concerns of the White Paper. It is, of course, only in the negotiations themselves that each member state can, or should, set out its detailed negotiating approach, but the White Paper will state clearly and openly the broad considerations which will influence Ireland's approach to the Intergovernmental Conference. The Intergovernmental Conference will be of great importance to Ireland and the European Union as a whole. Chairing the Intergovernmental Conference during the second half of 1996 will be one of the major priorities of the Irish Presidency.
The Council of Ministers, the Commission and the European Parliament are currently producing reports on the functioning of the Treaty on European Union. These reports will serve as inputs into the work of the Reflection Group which will undertake the preparation for the Intergovernmental Conference and which is due to hold its first meeting on 3 June. Ireland's representative on the Reflection Group will be the Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs. Deputy Gay Mitchell.
The Government attaches great importance to ensuring that at all stages of the process, both in the preparation for and conduct of the Intergovernmental Conference, the public, the Oireachtas, the social partners and other interested groups are kept fully informed of the issues at stake and fully involved in their discussion. The Joint Committee on European Affairs and the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, I am sure, will address many issues relevant to the Intergovernmental Conference over the coming months.
The Government would welcome the views not just of other political parties, of the social partners and of other interested groups in the run-up to the Intergovernmental Conference, but also the views of the general public. I would point out that two of the White Paper seminars focused on issues likely to arise at the Intergovernmental Conference. I have also received a number of interesting written submissions on these issues in the context of the White Paper and I am ready at any time during the discussions in the Reflection Group and in the Intergovernmental Conference to receive further submissions on matters under discussion in these fora.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. Does he agree that communicating European policy matters to the public presents a difficult challenge? Has he planned any additional initiative, particularly regarding European affairs, which might make explanation to the public easier?
I thank the Deputy for his remarks. Of their very nature, European statements, directives and policies in general are complex, especially as they now involve the deliberations of 15 member states, and communicating Europe to the public presents major difficulties. The Government has set up a well-resourced strategy for communicating Europe so that the public can become more involved in decisions made in Europe. Part of my thinking in publishing a White Paper was to engage the public in the formulation of foreign policy. For many years most people have been unable to contribute to the evolution of Irish foreign policy. The seven seminars held for the purpose of obtaining information and an input to the White Paper were successful and well attended by rank and file members of the public, non-governmental organisations, academics and other interested people. I am not sure if I will succeed, but I will endeavour to communicate Europe to the public in a simple fashion and to ensure it is well informed in the run-up to the Intergovernmental Conference.
I welcome to broad principles for the dissemination of information to the public and non-governmental organisations as outlined by the Minister. Is he aware of the concern of those organisations today — a concern shared by most people — about the crisis in Burundi and the lack of action at Government level on a worldwide basis? What specific action does the Minister propose to take regarding the handling of that crisis? Will he encourage the European Union to implement policies to prevent a recurrence in Burundi of what happened in Rwanda?
There are two parts to the Deputy's question. I outlined the general principles of foreign policy in my reply. In regard to day to day crises, the Deputy will be aware that my ministerial colleague, Deputy Burton, announced last weekend that the Government proposes to allocate £750,000 to assist agencies working in Burundi. The Minister proposes to meet the NGOs representatives on their return from Burundi tomorrow morning to get an update on the position. We will continue to do everything possible to alleviate the problem both on a bilateral basis and with our European partners.
I welcome the Minister of State's proposal to meet the NGOs on their return from Burundi and the contribution of £750,000, is a sizeable amount of money from our small State. The European Union which consists of 15 members should play a lead role in this area. We do not want a recurrence of the massacres which took place in Rwanda, but it looks as if that could happen. Will the Minister commit himself to raising this issue at an early stage with our European Union partners as well as at the UN so that we can take significant action to stop another tragedy?
Everything that can be done to ensure there is not a recurrence of the Rwandaan tragedy in Burundi. The matter is being given priority attention at the UN by the Organisation of African Unity and the European Union Troika has visited that area twice in recent times. I will have an opportunity to brief my colleagues in Brussels on the matter next Monday on the basis of the report we receive from the NGOs returning from the area tonight.