asked the Taoiseach when the Government expect to publish a White Paper setting out the terms of Ireland's entry into the EEC; whether Dáil Éireann will be given the opportunity of debating and voting on the White Paper; and, if so, when.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Membership of EEC.
1.
I informed the House in the course of the Adjournment debate earlier this month that, following the conclusion of negotiations with the Communities, which is now likely to take place before the end of this year, the terms of our accession will be published in the form of a White Paper. These terms will be debated in this House and put to a vote.
It is reasonable, therefore, to assume that the White Paper will be debated some time, say, in January, February or March?
That is a reasonable assumption but if it is possible to get it on before that we will of course do so.
In view of the positive statements by the Taoiseach and some of his colleagues that we would be in Europe by the 1st January, 1973, does he not think that he leaves himself a short time in order to introduce necessary legislation in this House to provide for amendments in the Constitution and also to provide for the referendum or referenda?
It will give us a whole year roughly, perhaps, not a full year but most of the year. Of course, if the debate takes as long as the debate on the current Bill it might be a difficult problem.
I can assure the Taoiseach that it will.
It will take longer even.
Why not have an election?
We will have a means of overcoming that, too, in due time.
You will deal with that in your own time.
2.
asked the Taoiseach if the Government have decided as to how and when changes required in domestic legislation, consequent on the entry of Ireland into the EEC, will be proposed to Dáil Éireann.
Such changes as may be necessary in our domestic legislation consequent on Ireland's accession to the European Communities are under examination. They will be proposed to the Oireachtas in due course.
The Taoiseach informed the House some time ago that there was a committee, chaired by the Attorney General, which was considering the changes necessary in our legislation. I presume this is the examination he is referring to in his reply.
Yes, but that is only part of it. Each Department is examining the changes that will be necessary or are likely to be necessary in the legislation which is proper to that Department.
There will be two types of legislation—changes in domestic legislation and then the introduction of legislation to provide for a referendum for constitutional changes?
That is true.
And we still have the assurance of the Taoiseach that in the referendum the change in the Constitution will be put separately to the people? It will not be a global presentation?
I do not know how many constitutional changes might be necessary as yet but I have told the House that the change proposed will be put in the simplest and most direct possible form so there can be no difficulty or no misunderstanding about what the issue will be.
Is it the position, therefore, that this Government publicly states that they are prepared to go into Europe without knowing themselves what the actual constitutional changes necessary are?
We have a good idea at this stage because, after all, we have been applicants now for almost ten years. We have been examining the situation. Our negotiations have been proceeding for some months. We will not be in a position until negotiations have finally concluded to indicate what exactly the amendments required will be but we are in a fairly good position to estimate or to assess what they are likely to be.
Question No. 3. We are getting away from the Deputy's question.
Surely these constituional changes must be related to the Treaty of Rome? The Taoiseach says our application has been in for the past ten years. The Treaty of Rome has been published for the past 12 or 13 years. Surely it is a bit late in the day to say we do not know exactly what constitutional changes we have to make?
We have a good idea but, nevertheless, we cannot anticipate——
"A good idea" is pretty vague.
——the final agreement that we will come to with the Communities, that is provided we do come to an agreement with them.
Does the Taoiseach mean it is not quite certain that we will come to an agreement as yet even?
It is shaping up well and we are quite happy with the way negotiations are going. In fact, they are going very satisfactorily.
He is smiling.