I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 10 and 52 together.
The Government is participating actively and constructively in the development and implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union. The provisions of Title V of the Maastricht Treaty, on which the CFSP is founded, were designed to enable the member states of the Union to develop their co-operation on foreign and security policy issues and to permit the Union to play a more coherent role in international affairs commensurate with its standing and responsibilities in the world.
As a result of the detailed preparatory work carried out between the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in February 1992 and its entry into force on 1 November last year — work in which Irish representatives, including the Taoiseach and myself were fully involved — the Council of Ministers were able to act immediately on the entry into force of the treaty to adopt joint actions on humanitarian aid to Bosnia; the sending of European Union observers to the elections in Russia; support for the transition towards a democratic and multi-racial South Africa and the launching of an initiative for a security pact in Europe. Joint actions in relation to the Middle East peace plan are also under consideration.
I am aware of the speech made by the President of the Commission to the Institute of International Strategic Studies in Brussels. He was speaking in his own name and not expressing a position agreed by the member states of the European Union.
The Maastricht Treaty makes special provision, under Article J4, for issues arising under the CFSP which have defence implications. Such issues may be referred to the Western European Union for elaboration and implementation. Ireland has become an observer to the Western European Union and regularly attends meetings of the Western European Union in that capacity. As an observer we do not participate in Western European Union decisions and observer status does not require us to undertake any mutual defence commitments or military obligations under the Brussels Treaty establishing the Western European Union.
Discussions on the scope and content of a future common defence policy and on the question of a common defence are for further negotiations. The treaty specifically provides for an intergovernmental conference in 1996 to review the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The results of these negotiations will have to be agreed unanimously by all the member states. As stated in the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Government is committed to putting the outcome of any future negotiation that would involve Ireland's participation in a common defence policy to the people in a referendum.
I have already made clear to this House that there is a need for a full and informed discussion of the question of European security and defence in the light of the ongoing developments in this area and in preparation for the intergovernmental conference. I am considering the possibility of publishing a document on the matter. I expect that the discussions of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs will also make an important and substantial contribution to the debate.