asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Ireland can obtain the same tariff-free access for its manufactured exports through bilateral trade agreements as it can from membership of the EEC.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of EEC.
11.
The completely free movement of industrial goods within a customs union which membership of the EEC involves would not be available under a trade agreement with the Community.
12.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Ireland can withdraw at any stage from the EEC.
The Treaty of Rome does not provide as such for, nor does it expressly preclude, withdrawal from the EEC.
13.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Ireland can declare neutrality within the framework of the EEC.
The question of neutrality does not arise in the context of our application or negotiations for membership of the EEC.
Would the Minister agree that the answer to that question is entirely inadequate in view of the fact that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has publicly said that this country is prepared to enter into military commitments within the framework of the EEC and has suggested that this will be required under the general tendency of the Treaty of Rome?
The Deputy is talking very much in the future and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, speaking in that context, was speaking in terms of a fully developed community in which political and defence matters may arise. At present we are talking about negotiations for entry into the EEC and the question of neutrality or political or defence commitments has not arisen, does not arise and will not arise.
I agree, but would the Minister not then agree that it was entirely superfluous, gratuitous and foolish for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make the statement that we would be prepared to enter into military commitments?
The Minister made that statement in another context. I fully endorse—and anybody who reads this matter in depth will fully endorse —what he has stated. What he said in this context was looking ahead into the situation that will arise when there is a fully-developed European community. We are not anywhere near that.
In other words, we are prepared to abandon our neutrality.
Would the Minister not agree that it would have been much better to have formulated it in the following terms that, if and when a common foreign policy emerges with which this country is in agreement, we might then contemplate such a commitment but that, unless there is such an agreed foreign policy in the formulation of which we will have a right of veto, the question does not arise? Would the Minister not agree that would have been much better?
That is another way of saying what I have just said.
Would the Minister not agree that it is a better way?
Question No. 14.
Further arising out of this question which is an extremely important one to this country, would the Minister not agree that this gratuitous offer by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to enter into military commitments could prejudice the possibility of a country like Sweden coming into the expanded community and that, therefore, it might be a community in which it would be possible for this country to preserve its neutrality?
The Deputy should realise that in all these negotiations the Government are not concerned about Sweden or any other country. We are concerned about Ireland.
The Government should be. That is a very narrow view.
This is our main concern. This is why we are here. This is why we were elected—to ensure that we get the best possible arrangement for the benefit of Ireland.
Question No. 14.