asked the Taoiseach if he will make the report on the application of Ireland and other countries for admission to the EEC, issued by the Commission of that body, available to Members.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of EEC.
1.
I have made arrangements whereby copies of a translation into English of the report are now available in the Library.
Would the Taoiseach not consider making them available to individual Deputies so that they can read them through quietly during the Recess?
The copies available here are translations made by our own Department of External Affairs. I understand that the Commission will be producing their own authorised version in English and it may be possible to supply each Deputy with a copy.
Are these not already available?
I do not think so.
There will be no ambiguity. The Taoiseach has seen the English version?
I have read our own.
The Taoiseach has not read the Commission's version?
No.
2.
asked the Taoiseach if it is proposed to hold discussions with the British Government prior to the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the EEC on 19th December, 1967.
There are no plans for discussions with the British Government prior to the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community on 18th and 19th December. The two Governments are, of course, in close contact on European Economic Community developments through their diplomatic representatives.
In the event of the British application being postponed for a long time or being indefinitely postponed, will the Government then be considering the question of associate membership?
That will depend on what the postponement is likely to be. If it is going to be extremely prolonged, we will then consider the implications of General de Gaulle's invitation to an interim arrangement.
Has the Taoiseach any reason to believe that there will be any finality to the matter arising from the meeting of the 18th and 19th of this month?
The Deputy was present in the House this morning when I said I did not think there would be any finality.
Are we then to assume that in the case of an indefinite postponement of the British application, we will then proceed to seek associate membership?
The Deputy is using the words "associate membership" in a very narrow sense, in the sense in which it is defined in the Treaty of Rome. We have not contemplated applying for associate membership in that context.
Then would it not be better to talk about an interim arrangement?
Yes. I have said we will consider what interim arrangement we can come to.
It must be plain to the Taoiseach that there will be a long delay about the British application. In view of the attitude of General de Gaulle and of the German Chancellor, two strong men of the Community, should we not now seek an interim arrangement? It is reasonable to assume that we will not be in by 1970.
I would prefer to await the outcome of the meeting of 18th and 19th of this month.