John Bruton
Question:10 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent visit to the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. [15796/98]
Ceisteanna—Questions. - Official Engagements.
John Bruton
Question:11 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the official engagements he undertook on his recent visit to Germany. [15797/98]
John Bruton
Question:12 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the items he intends to raise with the Chinese leadership when he visits China in September 1998. [15798/98]
John Bruton
Question:13 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the preparatory meetings he intends having in Ireland before his visit to China in September 1998. [15799/98]
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:14 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach his planned official visits abroad between now and October 1998. [15955/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 14, inclusive, together.
I attended the ceremony to mark the establishment of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt yesterday. This ceremony provided an opportunity for the Union to celebrate the beginning of a new era in economic and monetary union. The ceremony consisted of an opening address by Mr. Wim Duisenberg, the first President of the new European Central Bank, and addresses by Prime Minister Blair, as outgoing President of the European Council, the President of the European Parliament, José Maria Gil-Robles, the Commission President, Jacques Santer, Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Chancellor Victor Klima, the incoming President of the European Council. The ceremony included recitals by the Royal Dutch Male Voice Choir and a performance by the Riverdance ensemble.
I plan to visit France between 12 and 14 July to meet Prime Minister Jospin to discuss a range of European and bilateral issues and to attend the Bastille Day parade on 14 July. I will visit China during the week commencing 14 September. I also hope to visit Russia this autumn, either in late September or early October.
The programme for my visit to China is still in its preparatory stages. However, I hope to meet both the Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and President Jiang Zemin. There are a number of issues which I hope to discuss with both leaders, including the development of bilateral links between China and Ireland, the economic situation in Asia and human rights. I also hope to meet a number of business leaders as there will be a strong trade element to the China visit.
In preparation for the visit to China, an informal interdepartmental working group, chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs, has been established to co-ordinate the economic aspects of the visit. I will consider the necessity for additional preparatory meetings on economic and other issues as further details of the programme are clarified.
In relation to Question No. 10, how long does the Taoiseach expect Wim Duisenberg to serve?
He has stated he will not serve the full term and while there have been many rumours in that regard, the formal position is that it is his own decision. That was the position up to yesterday but he will not serve the full term.
Will the Taoiseach agree it is unhelpful that hints are being made in various quarters about the length of term he might serve and that it would be highly desirable if a clear statement were made by him now to put a stop to those rumours?
I agree with Deputy Bruton because we are charting new waters and there should not be any uncertainty in regard to currency or financial matters. Mr. Duisenberg stated he would consider his position when he reached retirement age. His age is well known and it would be useful if he said he would stay on until he reached a particular age. Perhaps he would have done that if it had not been for the extraordinary amount of pressure put on him by the French at the time. Because of that he was not prepared to take the job for the full term of office. If the French had persisted on that day, I believe he would not have taken the job.
Does the Taoiseach believe the French Government has learned any lessons from this carry on?
The Deputy must be joking.
I hope that matter has been laid to rest. It was the view of the European Council that this type of situation should not arise again.
I detect a bit of tension between the Social Democratic and the Christian Democratic view of Europe.
President Chirac belongs to Fianna Fáil.
Has the Taoiseach made any attempts to lobby for the appointment of Irish people to senior management positions in the European Central Bank in view of the fact that none has yet been appointed to senior positions?
I did not discuss that matter yesterday although I met most of the Irish staff employed by the bank. Appointments will be made by the ECB which is independent, unlike the Commission which has some lobbying powers. We have got the concession that the executive positions will be on a rotational basis which will be useful for the future. That will mean smaller countries like ourselves will not be played out of the positions which would have been the case but for the Council decision on the June weekend.