asked the Taoiseach if he will outline Ireland's priorities and objectives as determined by him and the Government for the forthcoming Presidency of the European Community; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
8.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EC Presidency.
7.
asked the Taoiseach the specific objectives he intends to set for the Irish Presidency of the EC Council in the first six months of 1990.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.
It is not the practice to make statements of this nature while the current Presidency has still so much time to run. The position will, of course, be influenced by the progress of that Presidency on particular items. Statements of the kind mentioned in the Deputies' questions will be made at the appropriate times.
The Taoiseach will agree that every Member of this House is anxious to assist the Government in their responsibility in the forthcoming Presidency. In order for us to do that fully, would the Taoiseach not consider that it would be useful for this House to have a debate before the end of this session which would clarify clear priorities for the oncoming Presidency? Is the Taoiseach now in a position to indicate to the House that a one day debate along the lines I am suggesting would be an appropriate mechanism?
I am not averse to that at all but, as the Deputy knows, what we will have to undertake in our Presidency will to a large extent depend on the progress made in the French Presidency. A number of the dossiers may have been completed and implemented so it is a bit early in the French Presidency to chart a programme of activity for our Presidency. We will now be discussing the NESC report on the Community and Deputies will have an opportunity in that debate to indicate their preferences for action. The Deputy's suggestion about a debate on the matter towards the end of this session is valuable.
Is the Taoiseach not aware that over half-way through the current Presidency it is not at all unusual for the incoming Presidency to have indicated a number of areas to which it wants to pay particular attention? Can the Taoiseach indicate to the House if, for example, reform of the Common Fisheries Policy will be a matter which his Presidency will pursue with some vigour, given the fact that there is a great deal of confusion about it, and not just here? Will he indicate whether the major changes which are being proposed in relation to the GATT will be a matter of concern to his Presidency or whether the pursuit of an environmental policy in the Community would be something that would be pushed by the Presidency? Will the Taoiseach give us his thinking on what the Community might do in relation to the area of indirect tax harmonisation, which seems to be stalled now? Will the Taoiseach also give us an indication as to whether during the Irish Presidency we will see a more constructive approach by his Government to the poverty programme, in contrast to their recent effort, which was to turn down £8.5 million worth of Community funds that we could have? It would be useful if the Taoiseach could indicate those areas of Community policy, if there are any, to which he and his Government would be particularly attached?
It would be invidious to do that at this stage of the French Presidency because it would be presuming that some dossiers will not be actively pursued and perhaps even completed before the French Presidency ends, and that has not been the tradition in the Community. Of course I am anxious as soon as possible to outline to the House the priorities we will have during our Presidency and the dossiers we will wish to advance. I am sure the Deputy is as much aware as I that this is a period of extraordinary activity in the Community. There are at least five major issues on the table at the moment which will have to be pushed forward by the French Presidency to the best of their ability and subsequently by us and then by the Italian Presidency. It is a very fluid situation with major issues on the table. At this stage our approach is to keep in the closest possible touch with the French Presidency and evaluate progress. In due course we will decide on our own priorities. The Deputy, if he is reasonable, will agree with me that to a large extent priorities are decided for us in this area. There are five or six major issues which will have to be tackled and dealt with immediately.
Would the Taoiseach not agree that it is entirely disingenuous of him to try to give the impression in this House that the incoming Presidency is totally in the hands of the outgoing Presidency, that there is no initiative that the Presidency can take, that he cannot even say now that given dossiers will not be completed by the end of this year? Does the Taoiseach not think at this stage that it is about time he showed some of the zeal that he recommended to the rest of this House and gave his Government some kind of flavour or character about what they are doing in the European Community rather than the bland nonsense they have been going on with for the last two and a half years?
That speech is rubbish and the Deputy knows it.
I must dissuade Members from attempting to debate this matter.
I just gave the Deputy one example——
If the Taoiseach had any interest in it at all——
This matter may not be debated now.
—— he would be able to say at this stage what they will achieve.
The Deputy is being foolish. I will give him one example. The social dimension and the social charter is a very urgent issue before the Community at present. It is the wish of the French Presidency to have that completed before the end of their Presidency. That is one issue on which I cannot comment at this stage. It is very likely that the French will succeed — I hope they will — in completing that dossier. Right across the board there are similar types of issues in a similar state. The Deputy should not be talking rubbish.
No. 9, Deputy Toddy O'Sullivan's question.
(Interruptions.)
Please, Deputy Dukes. Members will have ample opportunity of elaborating on these matters.
The Taoiseach knows we will not have indirect tax harmonisation by the end of this year.
No. 9.
Deputy Dukes has shown the paucity of his information about these matters because he has not mentioned four or five of the major issues on the table at the moment.
No. 9.