Vol. 480 No. 6
92 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, the Government intends to take to protect the interests of smaller states, such as Ireland, in any institutional reforms in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14714/97]
From the Irish point of view, the outcome of the Intergovernmental Conference in the area of institiutional reform and indeed the overall result of the Intergovernmental Conference has been highly satisfactory.
In the area of institutional reform, Ireland shared the concern of other member states to preserve the broad balance within and between the European Union's institutions which has been essential to the success of the Union. In particular, Ireland attached priority to maintaining the right to nominate a full member of the European Commission. We continue to believe it is central to the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Commission and of the Union's institutions as a whole that each member state is entitled to nominate a full member. I am very pleased this priority was realised and I would indeed pay tribute to the previous Government, of which Deputy Rabbitte was a member, for its efforts in this regard.
As the Deputy will be aware, the treaty provides for a future review of institutional arrangements, including the composition of the Commission. However, the outcome of such a future review is not prejudged, and there has been no decision to limit the size of the Commission to any definite number of commissioners.
Indeed, the larger member states agreed at the Intergovernmental Conference to give up their right to nominate a second Commissioner at the time of the next enlargement of the Union, provided that, by the date, the weighting of the votes in the council has been modified, whether by reweighting of the votes or by dual majority, in a manner acceptable to all member states.
