asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which section 30 of Article III of the Single European Act is being implemented.
Written Answers. - Single European Act.
43.
The Single European Act was ratified by Ireland following the referendum in 1987. Title III of that Act enshrined and codified for the first time in legal form the practices and procedures of European Political Cooperation which had evolved over the years and provided for the establishment of a small Secretariat in Brussels. From Ireland's point of view it is being implemented satisfactorily.
Title III contains a stipulation whereby it may be reviewed five years after it has entered into force. I would expect that member states will carry out a review at that stage of the effectiveness of the existing practices and procedures.
44.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that the objectives of the Single European Act will be achieved by 1992.
The Single European Act covers many areas of Community policy, including the internal market, economic and social cohesion, the environment, research and development, social affairs, economic and monetary policy and European Political Co-operation. The Community had adopted an ambitious work programme in these areas including the completion of the internal market by the 31 December 1992. At this stage over 50 per cent of the 280 proposals in the Commission's programme for the internal market have been adopted and I am confident that the pace of work in this area will be maintained with a view to the adoption of the remainder by 1992.