asked the Taoiseach if he intends to raise at the forthcoming Dublin EEC summit meeting Ireland's future contributions to the EEC budget.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin EEC Summit.
2.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his question on 31 October last. At this stage I have nothing to add to that reply.
I hope the Chair will allow a supplementary question.
The Chair will allow proper supplementary question and always does so allow.
I think the Chair is in sympathy with the Government's liking today for brevity.
The Chair asks the Deputy to put a brief supplementary question. That is the rule of the House.
I will put a brief supplementary, as brief as the non-commital reply of the Taoiseach on his own position in the last question. Is the Taoiseach aware that at least one of the Prime Ministers who will be attending the Dublin Summit has made it abundantly clear that she will be seeking a radical restructuring of the Community budget which, if conceded, must lead to an increased contribution from this country to the EEC budget? In those circumstances will the Taoiseach as President of the Community—assuming he will be still in that post in two week's time—state if he is in a position to declare what will be our attitude to EEC contributions?
Our attitude is, as it has always been stated, to get the maximum benefit out of our membership of the Community while, at the same time, preserving the ideals of the Community.