Vol. 262 No. 3
asked the Taoiseach whether Ireland has a particular preference with regard to the siting of the political secretariat of the EEC; if he will indicate the reasons for this preference; and whether this country's preference has been intimated to the EEC Commission.
3.
asked the Taoiseach if any decision has been taken following the current Ministerial discussions in Brussels with regard to the siting of the proposed political secretariat of the EEC; and if he will indicate whether Dublin is under consideration as a possible site.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
No decision has yet been taken by the Government of the Ten on the siting of the proposed EEC political secretariat. It remains our view that the question can best be settled by a consensus acceptable to all the Ten future partners. We shall indicate our preference in the matter at the appropriate time and place in the course of the further discussions on this subject among the Ten.
Has the Taoiseach's attention being drawn to a published report that the French Government have suggested that, in default of Paris, Dublin might be an acceptable place for the political secretariat, and has he any comment to make on it?
I am not aware that the French Government suggested Dublin. I know that Dublin has been suggested in some newspaper reports. However, I am not quarrelling with the source; I do not know. Dublin has been mentioned, certainly, and we would be willing to accommodate the secretariat in Dublin.
Would the Taoiseach be prepared to consider Wexford or Cork?
Or Miltown Malbay?
There is another administrative centre being talked about today.
