asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when it is likely that an authoritative estimate of the proposed Irish contribution to the funds of the EEC will be made public.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of EEC.
11.
The question of our contribution to the financing of the Communities during the transitional period while the full application of the Community system of "own resources" is being phased in by us is a matter for negotiation and it will not be possible to give an estimate in advance of agreement on this matter.
As regards the post-transitional period, it was estimated in the Government's White Paper of April 1970 that Ireland's contribution when the Community system of "own resources" was being fully applied by us could be as high as £19 million but might well be less. The estimate was subject to certain qualifications which are set out in paragraph 15.11 of the White Paper.
Could the Minister say for what the £19 million will be paid? Will it be just for administration?
No. The "own resources" of the Community—the Community would be entitled to receipts from agricultural levies, receipts from the customs tariffs and a yield from the value added tax not exceeding 1 per cent. The estimate made in the White Paper is on the basis that £4.5 million would come from the receipts from levies, £5.4 million from the customs tariffs and £9 million from the other, giving £18.9 million.
I gather that in the post-transitional period £19 million will not be the maximum?
That is our estimate.
That is your estimate?
Our contribution, yes. But you cannot be accurate. As time goes on it will depend on the level of the Community budget which will change and as time goes on we will make new assessments.
Could the Minister say at what stage in the next five or six months will this particular item be negotiated?
The Deputy knows that the contribution to be made by Britain——
Is being negotiated?
——during the transitional period is being negotiated and is causing delay in negotiations but if this is overcome the negotiations with the others would be dealt with quickly after that. The contribution after the transitional period will be an automatic contribution related to the levies you take up in agriculture, customs tariffs collected and a percentage of the value added tax.
Will negotiations by Britain have any effect on the amount we will pay?
I do not think so. No, the negotiations by Britain are not on the post-transitional contribution but are concerned with how much they will give during the transitional period to phase them into the full contribution for the post-transitional, "own resources" system so that it should not have any effect on our contribution.
Would the Minister agree that the figure of £19 million as our post-transitional contribution is now a very conservative figure in the light of the developments which have taken place since the publication of the Government's White Paper? Would he agree that, perhaps, it would be £25 million to £30 million now?
No. The assessment at this time is that it is possibly somewhat less than the £19 million mentioned in the White Paper but if circumstances change we shall make a new assessment and publish it. As of now, the estimate of £19 million as our contribution in the post-transitional period would stand.