When does the Minister anticipate that the ratification process will be completed in member states and the treaty adopted?
European Communities (Amendment) Bill, 1977: Committee and Final Stages.
Section 1 agreed to.
SECTION 2.
Question proposed: "That section 2 stand part of the Bill."
We have the statement the Senator was good enough to read out in which she said that at a recent point the Commission was hoping that the remaining outstanding villains would get on with the job quickly, and we have been doing so. I have no more observations to make on that, except that the Netherlands. I understand, which was mentioned on that list has ratified. I know that there is a great sense of urgency which will be influencing the French, Belgian and Italian Governments, though, indeed, some of these Governments may have some difficulties. The Belgian Government is in the process of having an election which may possibly cause some delay if the ratification has not been got through in time before the election, but I know there is a sense of urgency and a desire to get this through quickly. Certainly if we had dallied any longer there could have been a danger we would have been at the end of the queue instead of just on the wrong side of the middle.
Question put and agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported without amendment and received for final consideration.
Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."
With all due respect, I feel it is a pity, in view of the very enlightened discussion we had today on this Bill and the amount of information that was diffused, that its introduction to this House coincided with a meeting of the European Parliament. As a result, we were deprived of the expertise and knowledge of Senators Lenihan and Yeats, who are outstanding members of that Parliament. Perhaps in future it might be possible to arrange it in such a way that they would be present.
I very much regret that. I take the point that we must wherever possible try to ensure that European legislation is brought in at a time when Parliament is not in session. I will make no promise about this because there are obvious constraints on both sides. It is something that we should take very seriously in the future.
Question put and agreed to.