Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jun 1993

Vol. 433 No. 2

Written Answers. - Maastricht Treaty.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

33 Mr. Hogan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the initiatives, if any, he will be taking, legislative or otherwise, to comply with the terms of the Maastricht Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

Ratification of the Treaty on European Union, signed in Maastricht on 7 February 1992 has not yet been completed. The United Kingdom and Germany have still to finalise their ratification procedures. Under the terms of Article R, the Treaty shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the deposit of the instrument of ratification by the last signatory State to take this step. Current indications are that this will not take place until later this year.

In Ireland the necessary amendments to the Constitution and the European Communities Act, 1972, have already been put in place. The adoption of these measures enabled Ireland to lodge its instrument of ratification of the Treaty on European Union on 23 November 1992.

A commencement order will be required prior to the entry into force of the Treaty to bring the European Communities (Amendment) Act, 1992, into force. The effect of the Act is to amend the existing definition of the Treaties governing the European Communities to include certain of the provisions of the Treaty on European Union. It is proposed to make the commencement order when the last ratification has been lodged i.e. within the period of one month after the last ratification before the Treaty comes into effect. No other constitutional or legislative measures are necessary as far as Ireland is concerned to comply with the terms of the Maastricht Treaty.

As regards the implementation of specific provisions of the Treaty where action is required by my Department, the position is as follows. At the Edinburgh European Council the Twelve set out guidelines for the operation of the principle of subsidiarity (Article 3b). Negotiations of an inter-institutional agreement with Parliament and the Commission on the application of Article 3b is now underway. Guidelines for the consular protection of unrepresented EC nationals (Article 8c) in third countries come into force on 1 July 1993. These will entitle Irish nationals in distress in countries where there is no Irish representation to receive consular help from the embassy or consulate of another member state, on the same basis as nationals of that State. The detailed provisions governing the right of inquiry (Article 138c) are the subject of a resolution agreed by the European Parliament in December 1992. The issue is currently the subject of discussion between the Parliament, the Council and the Commission as is the implementation of the Treaty provisions on the Ombudsman (Article 138e). Ireland strongly supported the inclusion of a title on development co-operation (Article 130u-130y) in the European Union Treaty. Last November the Council of Development Ministers initiated a review of the development co-operation policies of the Community, taking into account the relevant Articles in the Treaty. Ireland is contributing fully to this ongoing review. As regards common foreign and security policy (Title V of the Treaty) the Twelve have undertaken preparatory work with a view to identifying areas open to joint action under the future common foreign and security policy. The Lisbon report, laid before the House as an annex to the conclusions of the Lisbon European Council, defined a number of objectives for the Community's relations with Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and the former Soviet Republics, the Maghreb countries and the Middle East. The Edinburgh and Copenhagen European Councils took note of preparatory work on issues in the security field, for example on non-proliferation and the strengthening of the CSCE. Ireland is contributing fully to this work.