asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the instrument of ratification of the Single European Act will be lodged in Rome; if he expects it to be fully ratified by all EC countries in time for the Heads of Government meeting next month; the place in which the declaration of the Government of Ireland on neutrality has been lodged and the legal status of this declaration.
Written Answers. - Ratification of Single European Act.
24.
The Government intend to deposit Ireland's instrument of ratification of the Single European Act with the Italian Government, which is the depository Government, as soon as they are in a position to do so and they envisage that the Single European Act will be ratified by Ireland before the European Council on 29 and 30 June which would permit the Single European Act to enter into force on 1 July.
All of our partners in the European Community ratified the Single European Act before 1 January 1987. Once Ireland has deposited its instrument of ratification no further action by us or our partners is required to permit the Single European Act to enter into effect.
The Government's Declaration on neutrality and on Protocol 30 appended to the Treaty of Accession will be lodged with the Italian Government together with Ireland's instrument of ratification and will be communicated to all of our partners.
The Declaration is a formal statement of the Government's position on neutrality and on Protocol 30. It will be recognised as such by our partners. Ireland's concerns on these issues are already reflected in the Single European Act and the Declaration reiterates our position.