Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Apr 1991

Vol. 407 No. 6

Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Extension of EC Competence.

John Bruton

Ceist:

3 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach if he will outline his views on the extension of competence of the European Community to each of the areas specified in paragraph 4 of the conclusions of the European Summit at Rome in regard to political union, namely (1) the social dimension, (2) economic and social cohesion, (3) the environment, (4) health, (5) research, (6) energy policy, (7) infrastructures and (8) European heritage, cultural exchanges and education; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Taoiseach:

The Government have a positive attitude to appropriate extensions of the competence of the European Community to or in the areas listed in the question.

Mr. J. Bruton:

Are the Government in favour of the Community contributing financially to the cost of matters such as health and environmental services and education in member states?

The Taoiseach:

That is not involved at this stage but, as the Deputy knows, we are already in receipt of Community funds either directly in these areas or in related areas. It is a matter which would have to develop but the first thing is to decide what is to be the competence of the Community in these areas.

Mr. J. Bruton:

How could the competence of the Community be extended in these areas if there is no financial commitment to back it up?

The Taoiseach:

Indeed, there are many areas in which the Community already has competence, and exercises competence very rigorously, and which do not have any financial implications or contributions.

Mr. J. Bruton:

Would the Taoiseach not agree that it would be very wrong if the Community were to be involved in passing judgement, for example, on the educational system or the health services in member states if the Community was not, at the same time, prepared to make some contribution towards the cost of those sevices in member states like Ireland which have a high dependency ratio and, therefore, a higher requirement to spend on health and education?

The Taoiseach:

I do not think that is really the issue. The Community exercises competence in many areas at present. For instance, it has taken unto itself competence in industrial relations matters by the Social Charter and there are many areas, such as energy, where the Community does exercise competence without any financial implications.

Mr. J. Bruton:

Not in health and education; it is not possible.

The Taoiseach:

The Deputy is rushing very far down the road at this stage. The IGCs have not yet decided that health and education will come within their competence and at that stage we can take our decisions.

An Ceann Comhairle:

I am calling Deputy Mitchell, but Deputy Mitchell is giving way to Deputy Bruton.

Mr. J. Bruton:

I cannot understand how the Government can say, through the Taoiseach today, that they are in favour of the Community extending competence to health and education and yet at the same time not be able to make up their minds that they are also in favour of the consequence, which is, that the Community should have financial means to support health and education. It is the Irish Government's policy that I am concerned to discover.

An Ceann Comhairle:

This is leading to argument.

The Taoiseach:

I am not saying one or the other. What I am saying is that it is quite possible for the Community to exercise competence and lay down principles and regulations in any area without necessarily incurring any financial implications by doing that. There are already a whole range of areas in which the Community does exercise a competence without putting up any funds for any particular purpose. In the two areas mentioned by the Deputy, health and education, it is quite possible to visualise the Community exercising a competence by laying down standards of one kind or another in regard to equality of opportunity and so on without necessarily incurring any financial obligations.

Mr. J. Mitchell:

A Cheann Comhairle——

An Ceann Comhairle:

I called Deputy Mitchell earlier; he gave way to another Deputy.

Mr. J. Mitchell:

I did it because I did not want to interrupt his speech. Will the Taoiseach tell the House what is his vision of Europe in the future, especially in light of the fact that we have record unemployment and record emigration——

An Ceann Comhairle:

The Deputy is introducing new matter into the question.

Mr. J. Bruton:

Will the Taoiseach accept that with the upcoming reforms in the CAP and GATT there is an urgent necessity from this country to look at new areas of funding at the EC?

The Taoiseach:

The other side of that coin is that this Government are frequently accused by their opponents of having a begging bowl attitude only to the Community. I see us as contributing both ways, participating in the formulation of Community policies and, where those policies benefit us, reaping those benefits. It is a very wide area but I think in particular in regard to economic and monetary union, IGCs and that development, our concentration should be on ensuring that the Community has adequate policies for economic and social cohesion. That is what we must try to insist on emerging from both political union and economic and monetary union IGCs. That is where we in this country on the periphery of Europe, stand to gain most.