asked the Taoiseach whether the White Paper published last July, as amended by the circulated summary of the agricultural decisions, represents the present information available to the Government which is necessary to consider the economic implications for Ireland of adherence to the Common Market; and, if not, if he will state the precise details of amendment required to those documents.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC: Economic Implications for Ireland.
1.
The White Paper published last July included an outline of the provisions of the Treaty of Rome and the associated proposals for a common agricultural policy and indicated that it dealt with matters which were in process of change or on which information might be incomplete. An assurance was given that if significant amendments proved to be necessary, they would be brought to notice in later Government statements.
Subsequent developments in regard to the implementation of the Treaty have been recorded in the bulletins issued by the Community, copies of which are available in the Library, and all significant developments have from time to time been brought directly to the notice of the Dáil. Deputies had, therefore, available to them all the information which it is at present possible to supply. Further information of this nature will continue to be provided according as it becomes available.
For the convenience of Deputies, however, I will have a statement prepared setting out the progress made by the Community with the implementation of the Treaty since the White Paper was published. I propose to make this statement available before the end of June.
It took a long time for me to get that out of the Taoiseach.
The Deputy should do his own work to some extent. However, I do not mind helping him out.
The Civil Service must be for the assistance of Oireachtas Éireann, as well as the Executive.
It was like the original White Paper when I had to put down 21 Questions and I had to keep on until he gave me the information.