Vol. 525 No. 5
1 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the proposed international multilateral agreements under the auspices of his Department being negotiated or prepared; the international organisation, if any, in each case through whose machinery the agreement is being negotiated; the plans to ratify or accede to the agreement if adopted; if so, if legislation will be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19848/00]
2 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the international multilateral agreements under the auspices of his Department which have not been signed by the State; the date and place opened for signature in each case; the international organisation, if any, through whose machinery the agreement was negotiated; the plans, if any, to sign the agreement; if so, when; if legislation is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19849/00]
3 Mr. Quinn asked the Taoiseach the international multilateral agreements under the auspices of his Department which have been signed but not ratified or acceded to by the State; the date and place opened for signature in each case; the international organisation, if any, through whose machinery the agreement was negotiated; the plans, if any, to ratify or accede to the agreement; if so, when; if legislation is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19850/00]
4 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the international agreements already signed, pending or under discussion for signature under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22942/00]
5 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the international multi lateral agreements already signed, being negotiated or in the course of preparation by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24068/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together.
My Department is not negotiating or preparing any international multilateral agreements. There are no such agreements under the auspices of my Department which have not been signed by the State, nor are there any agreements falling within my Department's ambit which have been signed but not ratified or acceded to by the State.
I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. Would it be normal that his Department be consulted about other Departments engaged in discussions and negotiations in respect of international agreements of the United Nations, the European Union or the Council of Europe?
I do not believe so, certainly not at my level.
It seems from replies to similar questions to other Departments, the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Justice, Equality and Law Reform, there are some 40 items outstanding which would require in the order of 19 Bills. Is anybody monitoring the extent of our legislative exposure? In fairness, this goes back over a number of Administrations, it is not a problem which has arisen in recent years.
Deputy Quinn, we are moving away from the substance of these questions, which refer specifically to the Taoiseach's Department.
I will raise it with the Department and if there is any progress, I will let the Deputy know.
Could it be said that the proposed Treaty of Nice is a multilateral agreement, in which the Taoiseach will be intimately involved in negotiating?
I will be involved in that.
Why is there not a reference to that in his reply? Is he satisfied with the method of operation of the European Council in finalising this treaty, given that it is done without officials by Ministers on their own, having to communicate, over long distances via one official to other officials who are even further away, for advice to be obtained by the Taoiseach, who is often there on his own or perhaps with one other person?
Deputy Bruton, again we are wandering away from the substance of the questions.
No. The Taoiseach has accepted that this is an agreement in which his Department is involved. Therefore, the question is relevant. Would the Taoiseach deal with those matters?
The reason that was not mentioned is it was not the question asked. The Nice Treaty will not come under the aegis of my Department. When it is to be ratified, it will come under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and it is strictly in line with the questions Deputy Quinn asked.
On the question, those are the arrangements which the French Presidency put in place for the Biarritz Council.
It did not matter so much at Biarritz as that was an informal Council. When one comes to agreeing the words of a treaty, agreeing law for the Union or agreeing a constitution for the Union, in effect, which is what will be done in Nice, it is unsatisfactory to be in such a position.
Deputy Bruton, we are moving away altogether from the substance of the questions.
No, it is directly in order. Are we trying to make this House irrelevant by interruption like this?
The questions refer specifically to agreements under the aegis of the Taoiseach's Department.
The arrangements for Biarritz will not apply. There were many complaints about the Biarritz Council. Even though it was an informal council, there was effectively little or no contact with anybody outside. For Nice, they will probably go back to something near the normal arrangements, but President Chirac's views on this may be different to the views of other Chairmen in recent years.
What will be the arrangements?
It is not known.
I call Deputy Joe Higgins. I will call you again, Deputy Bruton.
(Dublin West): Would the Taoiseach agree that he has overall responsibility for the policy of the State regarding the EU and therefore the questions should have drawn from him a substantial answer regarding the upcoming treaty to be finalised at Nice? In that regard, would the Taoiseach agree that essentially an 80,000 strong EU army will be set up? Would he agree that he has conceded neutrality, for which he has said the State and his party stands, and has thrown it away? Will he now admit that to the people?
Deputy Higgins, as I pointed out to Deputies Quinn and Bruton, this question is very specific about agreements under the aegis of the Taoiseach's Department not under the aegis of other Departments?
(Dublin West): The Taoiseach will be fronting for the State.
I accept that. I suggest the Deputy should put down a question.
On a point of order, is the Chair suggesting that the Taoiseach will act under the aegis of the Minister for Foreign Affairs at Nice?
No, but the Taoiseach said the Minister for Foreign Affairs will be responsible.
There are questions on Nice later.
I still press my point of order. Does the Leas-Cheann Comhairle agree the Taoiseach will act as Head of Government at Nice in agreeing this treaty? He is not acting under anybody's aegis but his own.
It is a position but the questions specifically refer to what is under his aegis. What we want to avoid is the Taoiseach, on Taoiseach's Question Time, answering questions that are more appropriate to other Ministers in Cabinet. That has been a long standing precedent in this House.
I was asking the Taoiseach questions only about matters in which he is personally and directly involved. He will be personally involved in Nice. I am asking him only about matters that affect his direct personal responsibility. If I cannot ask about those matters, I do not know what I can ask about.
The Deputy knows the answer.
