Vol. 261 No. 11
asked the Taoiseach the arrangements to enable parliamentary committees to be set up to scrutinise EEC proposals and through which the views of the national parliament may be expressed before final legislative decisions are taken by the Council of Ministers, whether through regulations or directives; and if arrangements are being made whereby the national parliament will be kept sufficiently informed to enable it to make timely interventions.
2.
asked the Taoiseach the arrangements made to consult the Houses of the Oireachtas on EEC policy issues prior to a decision being taken thereon by the Council of Ministers.
3.
asked the Taoiseach if he intends to discuss on a consultative basis with the Opposition parties in the House all present and future ramifications and problems attendant on Ireland's entry into the EEC; and if he will give details of these proposed consultations.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 3 together.
The Government have under examination the question of facilitating the Houses of the Oireachtas in relation to proposals for Community legislation and policy issues and information thereon. As I have already indicated, I shall be seeking the views of the other parties in the House on this question.
Has the Taoiseach considered the question of establishing an all-party committee of the Dáil to consider matters of this sort?
There are many ways in which we could contemplate keeping the House informed of impending directives and regulations by the Community. An all-party committee would be one of the means which I would propose to discuss with the other side.
When will the Taoiseach be in a position to inform the Dáil about this?
I hope very shortly. At the present time I have instructed the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make submissions to me for consideration before I approach the parties opposite.
Question No. 4.
Would the Taoiseach agree that it is important that Members of the Opposition be not only confidentially informed of what is going on but that they have an opportunity of debating these draft directives here in the House?
I do not know that that would be necessary. As the Deputy is probably aware, they have different procedures in the parliaments of the existing members of the Six, ranging from informal discussions to formal matters being raised in the respective Houses formally. However, this is something I have a completely open mind upon and I am waiting to get the submissions of the Minister and then follow that by discussions with the Opposition.
Is the Taoiseach in a position to say when the representatives to the European Parliament will be selected and by what method?
I cannot say that at the moment but I think that as an initial step anyway, it ought to be done by agreement among the parties in the House from the existing Members of the House.
How, in fact, will it be done? The Taoiseach will allocate a number of seats, say, to each group in the House and the parties themselves will decide?
I think that is the best way. We have, I think, ten seats. They ought to be allocated proportionately between the parties. The parties themselves if they wish should select their members.
Is the Taoiseach aware that the British Government have offered to the Opposition in West-minister the setting up of a committee to consider all these procedural matters and would he consider this proposal?
Mr. Rippon has offered to the Opposition the setting up of an ad hoc committee to consider what might be done. I think it is better that I receive the submissions I have asked for from the Minister, discuss them with the leaders of the Opposition and then we can see where we go from there.
Question No. 4.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that there is a danger in that procedure that the Government will come to the——
I have called Question No. 4.
