andMr. McQuillan asked the Taoiseach whether he has seen a report that the foreign ministry in Copenhagen published a 500 page report on the economic consequences of Denmark's joining the EEC; and whether the Government, using similar methods and studying the experience gained by those countries which have already operated within the EEC since 1958, will provide the Dáil with a comprehensive white paper to include the possible and probable political, economic and defence implications of Ireland's joining the EEC, as a preparation for a full debate on the subject.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - White Paper on EEC Implications.
2.
I have seen the newspaper report referred to regarding the publication of a document by the Danish authorities on the economic consequences of Denmark's joining the EEC.
I would remind the Deputies that the Government issued last June a White Paper on the EEC and that this House and the public have subsequently been kept informed of developments in relation to our application for membership of the Community. It is intended to continue the practice of making available information regarding various aspects of our application, as occasion requires.
As regards the economic consequences of membership, Deputies are aware that a series of industrial surveys has been put in hands, directed towards an examination of the difficulties that may be created for particular industries and the formulation of positive measures of adjustment and adaptation. Until the information which is being collected in the course of these surveys has been assembled and examined, it will not be possible to draw any firm conclusions as to the consequences for particular industries of membership of the Community.
So far as I am aware, the Danish authorities have not previously issued any document corresponding to a White Paper on the question of membership of the Community. As soon as copies of the document referred to in the question can be obtained, I shall have it examined with a view to ascertaining whether it possesses any features which have not been covered in the information made available in relation to our application.
I understood the Taoiseach to accept, in relation to previous questions, the principle of issuing a further White Paper so as to bring developments in connection with our application for membership of EEC up to date. Can he give any indication as to when such a White Paper will be published?
I did not give an indication of an intention to issue a further White Paper at this time. I undertook to try and make available an authentic text at the earliest possible time of the EEC decisions in relation to agricultural policy.
Does the Taoiseach recall in the course of a number of questions, answers and supplementary questions a suggestion that the publication of a White Paper at a reasonably early stage would contribute materially by providing the necessary available information not only for the information of the House but for the information of the public in general?
As I have said, we have already published a White Paper in which we have set out all the available information in respect to the constitution and procedures of EEC. We have given all the information available to us of developments in the meantime. The most important development has been the making of decisions regarding agricultural policy. The texts of these decisions, as soon as they are available to us, will be communicated to Deputies. I think it would be quite unreasonable to ask the Government, during the progress of the discussions with the Community, to publish a White Paper containing statements of Government policy.
I do not want to press the Taoiseach unduly to deal with hypothetical questions during the course of the discussions going on at the moment, but there has been an accumulation of documents such as the draft of the Fouchet Committee declaration and the policy declaration. The Fouchet Committee is sitting again and that committee, of course, will issue a declaration. Perhaps, the Taoiseach would bring out a White Paper at a reasonably early date so that people might refer to it for the information they feel they are entitled to have and which I, too, feel they are entitled to have.
Every effort will be made to supply the House with all the factual information that will become available, but a White Paper presupposes statements of Government policy and I do not think it would be desirable to undertake anything of that kind at this stage.
The Taoiseach must understand that there is general confusion on Government policy in relation to the application for membership and the negotiations in regard to the Common Market and he himself is— I am sure, without intending to be— on record with conflicting statements in relation to the political implications of our joining, and conflicting statements in regard to the nature of the policy which we now have and the policy which we held, let us say, in 1949. In these changing circumstances, is it not clear that we cannot get satisfactory elucidation to the Common Market by means of question and answer in this way? It is unsatisfactory from the Government's point of view and from every other point of view.
It is quite untrue to say there have been conflicting statements and points of view and any confusion that may exist is only in the minds of those who find the facts are not what they want them to be.
Like Senator Boland.
The Taoiseach says the Government have no declared policy on certain aspects of Common Market policy, but is it not a fact that, as soon as we are accepted, if we are accepted, we will be committed to the policy already made by the member States?
No. We will be committed to whatever emerges as a result of the discussions which, I hope, will be proceeding.
I do not know whether the Taoiseach misunderstands me. Certain policy has been determined by the member States. If, and when, we become members we will be committed to policy already made by the member States.
If the Deputy is referring to agricultural decisions——
Not particularly.
In so far as policy decisions have been taken by EEC in the implementation of the Rome Treaty, then certainly we are committed to what the Community has already decided, except to the extent that we may seek to secure some modification of these decisions having regard to the special circumstances of our own case.
Sir——
Surely we cannot have the Common Market and NATO discussed on every question.
I agree. That is my difficulty. I just want to ask the Taoiseach is it not a fact that in November last he said nobody could authoritatively say what the political implications of the Common Market were? Then, very recently, he said we are completely accepting the implications of joining the Common Market. In those circumstances, we are in the dark as to what the Taoiseach thinks are the implications.
I do not accept the Deputy has quoted me correctly in respect of any statement I made.
Does the Taoiseach deny he made that statement?
Put a question down.
I will quote them to him next week.