andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Finance whether it is a fact that under Articles 73, 108 and 109 of the Treaty of Rome the power of protecting the balance of payments in a crisis situation does not rest with the responsible government; and, if so, if he is satisfied that, where Ireland is concerned, decisions taken in such circumstances will be more likely to be advantageous than if taken by the Irish Government as at present.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC: Balance of Payments Protection.
9.
Under the provisions of the Treaty of Rome the power of protecting the balance of payments in a crisis situation rests with the responsible Government and is exercised in accordance with the arrangements set out in the Treaty. I am satisfied that these arrangements are such as to permit of the taking of more advantageous decisions in a balance of payments crisis as a member of the Community than as a non-member.
I should add, of course, that the aims of the European Economic Community in relation to economic policy generally, and the provision made to achieve those aims, are such as to minimise the risk of balance of payments difficulties in the member States.
Would the Minister indicate who is the deciding authority when a crisis arises?
The deciding authority is the member state in the case of a crisis. But the member state, if it takes the initiative without consultation, will have to notify the case to the Commission. The Commission will then examine it and may make recommendations to the member state.
In other words, if what the Government consider to be a major crisis develops, it is up to the Government of the particular state to apply to the Commission——
No. They may either apply to the Commission or apply their own remedy at once. If they apply their own remedy, they must notify the Commission and the Commission may make recommendations.
If they notify the Commission, is it not a fact the Commission have power to reverse the decision taken?
They only have power to make recommendations.
The recommendations made by them will then be binding on the responsible Government?
In certain circumstances they would be binding.
In which case they would reverse the decision of the responsible Government?
What do they do in the USSR?
On a point of order, Sir, this is the second occasion in the last week that a suggestion has been made by members of the Government that Deputy Dr. Browne has some association with Communist Russia. Last week we had the Taoiseach telling him to go back to Khrushchev and this week we have the Tánaiste suggesting he should consult the USSR.
I did not say "consult". I asked what they do in the USSR.
It is a disgraceful misuse of the privilege of the House to have the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste trying to smear the name of a Deputy when they have no other means of defending themselves.
The Deputy is certainly using the tar brush now.
(Interruptions.)
On a point of order, Sir, you have ruled on another occasion that, where a Deputy has declared he is not and never has been a Communist or associated with the Communist Party in any way, it is disorderly to impute by any suggestion, as has been made by the Tánaiste and by the Taoiseach on another occasion, that the Deputy is a Communist. I hope you will give me your protection from slanderous remarks of that kind.
I do not see that the Deputy has to be protected from anything. I do not see what the imputation is. The Tánaiste asked "What do they do in the USSR?"
Is it not a fact that the last day in this House, when the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Lands, Deputy Lehihan, described Deputy Dr. Browne as a "Red", you said you did not hear him? The implication was that if you did hear him, you would ask him to withdraw. We have insinuations being made every day by the Front Bench of Fianna Fáil that Deputy Dr. Browne is a Communist or associated with the Communist Party. Deputy Dr. Browne, as a Deputy of this House, is entitled to your protection from any such smear campaign.
Any Deputy who needs my protection will get my protection, but I do not see anything to protect the Deputy from merely by referring him to a state.
Everybody knows the imputation and that is why the Tánaiste made it.
I do not know the imputation.