andMr. McQuillan asked the Taoiseach whether associate membership of the Common Market. involves any political commitments vis-à-vis the other members of EEC.
4.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC: Associate Membership
3.
andMr. McQuillan asked the Taoiseach whether the Government have considered the implications for Ireland of associate membership of the Common Market.
With your permission, Sir, I propose to take questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
There is as yet no established doctrine covering association under Article 238 of the Rome Treaty. It would, therefore, serve no useful purpose to speculate on the points raised by these questions.
Would we, for instance, be bound to adhere to the provisions in the Bonn Declaration as associate members rather than as full members?
The Deputy must not expect me to speak for the European Economic Community in a matter on which they have not yet established their doctrine.
Surely the Taoiseach had to consider two questions, association and full membership, and could he not say, from an examination of the Greek position, whether we must accept the provisions of the Bonn Declaration?
I do not think there is anything to be learned in that regard from the Greek position.
The Taoiseach was quite clear that it was necessary to adhere to the provisions of the Bonn Declaration for full membership. Why is he in such doubt in relation to associate membership?
What I have said regarding associate membership is that there is no established doctrinaire position yet taken up by the European Economic Community. I, therefore, cannot answer questions on that. In the Bonn Declaration, there was an indication that the European Economic Community would welcome as members of the Community countries that were prepared to accept the aims set out in that declaration.
As far as the Taoiseach knows, there would be no obligation on us, if we were associate members, to accept any of the commitments of the Bonn Declaration?
I am not aware that is so. I am equally not aware that the contrary is the case. Deputies who have been following the newspaper reports in this regard will have seen that spokesmen of individual member countries of the Community have expressed very definite views in that regard.