Vol. 427 No. 6
4 Mr. Barry asked the Taoiseach if, at the next European Summit, he will be pressing Ireland's claim as the centre for the new European Community agency to monitor drugs and drug addiction; if he will be lobbying for this in advance of the June summit in Copenhagen; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to avail of every opportunity, including at Copenhagen, to secure the location of one of the new Community bodies here — although I should add that our first preference is the new medicines agency, particularly in view of the major boost it would give to our pharmaceuticals industry.
What is the present position with regard to the locating of this enterprise here, the approximate employment it is likely to create here, and the function of the agency concerned?
The institution mentioned in the question should employ 14 people. That is not the institution that is the Government priority for Dublin. We are pursuing the medicines agency which will give employment in the initial stages to approximately 100-150 people. There are at least four if not five countries in the EC that do not have any institution as yet within their borders.
Was it not the intention that all of these matters of location of institutions would have been settled at the Edinburgh Summit? Could the Taoiseach explain why agreement was not reached at Edinburgh on these questions of location and when he expects such agreement will be reached?
It was never intended that all questions would be settled at the end of the Summit. These questions were raised by the Portuguese Presidency at their Summit and the position was that they tried, but they have to get unanimous agreement, and that was not forthcoming. Major questions which had not been settled in relation to other institutions and which comprised an ongoing controversy about the seats of the principal Community institutions, the Parliament, the Commission and the Council, were settled at Edinburgh and that opens the way for further discussions at Copenhagen. Let us hope we can reach agreement although it will not be easy. With those major institutions out of the way they have a better chance of being settled at Copenhagen.
Sir, would it be possible, in view of the fact that I have to meet our distinguished visitor, to have Questions Nos. 7 and 8 postponed until tomorrow?
I am sure we can facilitate the Deputy.
