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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 26 Jul 1961

Vol. 191 No. 11

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Common Market Commitments.

2.

andMr. McQuillan asked the Taoiseach if he will state the political commitments or implications which are involved for Ireland in joining the Common Market, and which he said on the B.B.C. that Ireland was quite agreeable to accept.

I would refer the Deputies to what I said in the Dáil on 5th July in the course of the debate on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and particularly to Columns 268, 269, 271-2 and 281-4 of Vol. 191, No. 2, of the Parliamentary Debates.

Was the Taoiseach answering Questions Nos. 2 and 3 there?

It is obvious the Taoiseach cannot hear. How can we hear him?

That was the answer to Question No. 2.

In view of the fact that the Six nations who are members of the Common Market and also members of N.A.T.O. have recently met to decide on an attempt to integrate political action, does the Taoiseach not feel that the time is now opportune to let the Irish people know what the political implications will be of this attempt to change the complexion of the Common Market and make it a political instead of an economic organisation? That is a recent development since his last statement.

Our accession to the Rome Treaty would involve us in no specific commitments other than those set out in the Treaty.

Is it not a fact that N.A.T.O. countries in the Common Market have recently met with a view to formulating a common political policy and that this alters the complexion of the Rome Treaty and that it would now appear that membership of the Common Market would have its political implications? In those circumstances surely the Dáil should be given some idea as to what those political implications may be?

As I understand it, they have made arrangements for the drafting of a convention for political unity, but there could be no question of our having to express any view on the provisions of that convention until we see it.

Is it not a fact that once we enter the Common Market— and we appear to be committed to do so if the British do so—the Council of Ministers will consist of approximately 16 persons, that the member nations will have four votes each and we will have one and that decisions will be taken by a majority decision in that Council? In those circumstances, we will have no say at all once we join.

All this is argumentative. It is not a question.

Is that not a fact?

What is a fact is that signature to the Rome Treaty implies acceptance of the provisions of the Rome Treaty, nothing else.

And that implies the giving away of political power as far as this country is concerned.

Membership of N.A.T.O. commits us to Adenauer and de Gaulle.

3.

andMr. McQuillan asked the Taoiseach whether he is now in a position to state whether membership of the Common Market implies any military commitment whatever to the N.A.T.O. alliance.

I would refer the Deputies to replies I gave to similar questions on 25th May and 6th June.

Is that the reply to Question No. 4?

We cannot hear. That is the problem.

I have answered Question No. 3.

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