Does Senator Quinlan now wish to move his motion?
Ireland's Membership of Common Market: Motion.
Could the Minister answer one question: I understand that when I asked yesterday the question if Britain did not join the European Economic Community, why should the Government rule out Ireland joining, the answer the Minister gave was that that has not been ruled out. Yet in column 205 of the Dáil Debates of Wednesday, 5th July, 1961, the Taoiseach was very explicit in ruling it out when he said:
For these reasons, the question of our establishing a link with the Common Market while Britain should remain outside is not a practical one.
The White Paper states the same thing even more emphatically. If the question is not a practical one, that means that there will be no earthly meaning to even applying for a link with the Common Market. Consequently, the Taoiseach's statement is doubly at variance with the statement by the Minister yesterday in correcting the statement I had made.
The Senator is now making a speech.
I move:
That Seanad Éireann welcomes the challenge of the Common Market and believes that this country should make immediate application for membership.
I formally second the motion.
I do not remember the statement to which the Senator refers but I do remember—and I looked it up since—what the Taoiseach said in the Dáil last Thursday. He was asked the same question: if Britain does not go in, what will we do then? He said it would have to be considered on its merits. The position then would be that E.F.T.A. may be revived and we may find tariffs built up against us. We should have to do something about it.
That is a departure from what is stated in the White Paper. I welcome the departure.
We pointed out the difficulty in the White Paper.
I put the motion down for the purpose of having it considered and having the Seanad debate it. The debate has been very unsatisfactory. Still, I think, I have got what I looked for. I think the Minister is in substantial agreement with me and, with the permission of the House, I withdraw the motion.
Motion, by leave, withdrawn.