Written Answers. - Intergovernmental Conference.
Mary Harney
Question:
27
Miss Harney
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Foreign Affairs the preparatory work which is being done by the Government for next year's Intergovernmental Conference review of the European Union Treaties; and the priority objectives of the Government.
[12257/95]
Matt Brennan
Question:
32
Mr. M. Brennan
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the implications of enlargement for the appointment of members of the European Commission.
[11743/95]
Bertie Ahern
Question:
34
Mr. B. Ahern
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government intends seeking and supporting official status for the Irish Language at the next Intergovernmental Conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11745/95]
Matt Brennan
Question:
50
Mr. M. Brennan
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on changes in the powers of the European Parliament in the context of the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference.
[11744/95]
Eric J. Byrne
Question:
58
Mr. E. Byrne
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Ireland will be pressing for an accession by the EU to the European Convention on Human Rights in the near future in view of the fact that both the Council of Europe and the EU Parliamentary Assembly support such an accession; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[15090/95]
Mary Wallace
Question:
62
Miss M. Wallace
asked the
Tánaiste
and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends seeking the extension of European Union treaties to cover the promotion of the welfare of people with disabilities during the forthcoming Intergovernmental review of the Treaties.
[14219/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 32, 34, 50, 58 and 62 together. All of the questions relate to the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference (IGC).
The Government has begun the process of preparing its approach to next year's Intergovernmental Conference. As the Deputy will be aware and as has again been underlined in a reply to a separate parliamentary question today, the negotiation of Treaty changes will fall to the Intergovernmental Conference itself which is due to open during the Italian Presidency in the first half of next year. The reflection group is undertaking a preliminary exercise of clarifying issues likely to arise at the Intergovernmental Conference and identifying possible approaches to them.
Member states are not at this stage setting out their detailed negotiating approach to the Intergovernmental Conference nor are they submitting detailed Treaty amendments for consideration. The Government attaches great importance, however, to promoting from the outset parliamentary and public debate about the issues likely to arise. The White Paper on Irish Foreign Policy which is to be published shortly will set out the Government's approach at this stage to the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference. Minister of State Deputy Gay Mitchell, who is my personal representative on the reflection group, has already set out some of our general objectives which have been raised in the group.
I do not consider that the further enlargement of the Union should have any implications for the right of every member state to nominate a member of the European Commission, although I am of course aware that not all member states share this view. To deprive member states of the right to nominate a Commissioner, far from making it more efficient, would in our view make it less efficient in its essential role of protecting the common interest and in retaining public support for its central role in the process of European intergration. We consider that it would, however, be appropriate for the large member states to agree in the context of further enlargement to nominate only one member of the Commission.
It is not clear whether the linguistic regime of the European Union will fall for consideration at next year's Intergovernmental Conference. The question of languages is, of course, a particularly sensitive one and the unanimity requirement at the Intergovernmental Conference may preclude any significant changes. Moreover, the detailed arrangements for the language regime are not set out in the Treaty itself but rather principally in a Council regulation. A change in the language arrangements would not, therefore, require Treaty change at an Intergovernmental Conference. If the language regime is discussed at the Intergovernmental Conference and a suitable opportunity arises to enhance the status of Irish in that context the Government would intend to bring forward a suitable proposal.
The Government is, of course, in any event committed to practical improvements in the use of Irish in the European Union which do not require Treaty change. I consider that there are a number of such practical improvements which could be made, including the translation into Irish of a larger number of documents than at present. I am in contact with my colleague the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht about the possibility of such practical improvements.
I would add that the Minister of State, Deputy Gay Mitchell, has recalled at the reflection group the importance of the Irish language to the Government and citizens of this country and has indicated that its status may be raised in the event of a wider discussion of the language regime at the Intergovernmental Conference.
The powers of the European Parliament will be a key agenda item at the Intergovernmental Conference. The Government will support an appropriate strengthening of the role of the Parliament provided the broad interinstitutional balance and in particular the role of the Commission are fully preserved. The Government would be happy to see, for example, an extension of the co-decision procedure to some additional areas of European Community business.
The question of whether the European Union or European Community should accede to the European Convention of Human Rights may arise at the Intergovernmental Conference and is likely to be identified as an option by the Intergovernmental Conference reflection group.
The Council of Ministers has already requested the opinion of the Court of Justice on whether accession by the Community to the European Convention is compatible with the existing EC Treaty. This request is without prejudice to the position of member states on the substantive issue which would have to be decided unanimously. The court's opinion is awaited.
The implications of accession whether by means of Treaty change or under the existing Treaty have not yet been fully teased out at the level of the European Community, the Council of Europe or member state level. The issues are complex ones and, before the Government adopts a definitive view on the matter, these need to be studied further. The Government, of course, attaches the greatest importance to the protection of human rights.
The Government is very concerned to do whatever possible to address the concerns of the disabled. The issue of whether to include in the Treaties an appropriate provision in this regard such as a non-discrimination clause has been raised at the reflection group including by the Minister of State, Deputy Gay Mitchell. The issue has arisen in the context of a wider discussion on rights and non-discrimination more generally. The role of the reflection group, as I have said, is not to negotiate Treaty changes but rather to identify possible options for consideration by the Intergovernmental Conference. I have no doubt that one of the options which will be clearly signalled will be the possibility of provisions to prevent discrimination on the grounds of disability. The full implications of the various options set out in the reflection group's report will be considered in due course by the member states individually and collectively at European level. As far as the Irish approach is concerned the issues arising are at present being studied at interdepartmental level.
