EU Treaties.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2004

Wednesday, 31 March 2004

Questions (115)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

106 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the fact that his group reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 44, 48, 54, 97 and 102 on 12 February 2004 did not address Parliamentary Question No. 102, he will report on the status of the Article 40 common defence provisions of the draft EU constitutional treaty; if the Article 40 provisions have been finally agreed; if not, if they are still open to change at the next round of negotiations; if the Government has agreed to the Article 40 provisions; if not, if the Government will be seeking changes; and the changes that will be sought. [9965/04]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

My reply to the Deputy on 12 February 2004 was comprehensive and addressed all aspects of the questions under reference.

In relation to Article 40 of the draft constitutional treaty, the position is as follows: on 9 December 2003, the Italian Presidency published a revised version of Articles 40.6 and 40.7 of the draft constitutional treaty relating to structured co-operation and mutual defence respectively. Although there was no formal agreement on the proposals at the European Council in December, there was an understanding among member states at the time that the Presidency text had achieved broad consensus and that, as regards mutual defence, it took due account of the various security and defence traditions within the Union.

Ireland is supportive of the Italian Presidency proposals of 9 December and we will not actively seek to reopen discussion on these or on any other aspects of Article 40.

Question No. 107 answered with QuestionNo. 36.

Question No. 108 answered with QuestionNo. 81.