asked the Taoiseach if he holds the view that the Taoiseach should participate in informal discussions at the European Council if these touch upon matters involving military security.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - European Council Discussions.
1.
Ireland's position in this area is set out in the Declaration of the Government of Ireland on Title III of the Single European Act. It is not affected by informal discussions at European Council or elsewhere.
Can I take it from the Taoiseach that he is, therefore, prepared to take part in discussions in the informal/formal part of the Council meetings of the European Council on matters touching on military security, and does so on the basis he has just outlined?
I am not saying that but the Deputy is aware that the position of this Government and of the previous Government is that we accept that in Community affairs the economic aspect of security can be discussed. With regard to the European Council meetings, I think the Deputy is probably referring to the dinner that takes place in conjunction with the meetings of the European Council. It is well known that discussions at that dinner range far and wide and cover matters above and beyond Community affairs so that participating in informal discussions of any kind does not have any great significance.
I take it from that that the Taoiseach experiences no inhibitions in discussing matters affecting military security at the dinner associated with the meetings of the European Council?
I am not saying that. I am saying that the discussions at the dinner are quite informal and do not carry any particular significance. Individual participants feel free to discuss, totally informally, matters which may be connected with the Community, but very often are not connected in any way with the Community.
Did I mishear the Taoiseach as saying that these meetings are of no particular significance and, if so, why is he attaching such significance to presiding at them for the next six months?
I did not say that.