John Bruton
Ceist:1 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the contents of his discussions with the Dutch Prime Minister on his recent visit to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Discussions with Dutch Prime Minister.
I met the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr. Ruud Lubbers, in the course of his official visit to Ireland on Monday, 11 April.
The visit, at my invitation, enabled Mr. Lubbers and myself to have bilateral talks on a wide range of matters of mutual concern. Given our shared membership of the European Union, we devoted a considerable amount of our talks to issues of current concern within the Union. Specifically, in this regard, we discussed the follow-up to the European Commission's White Paper on Employment, the current round of enlargement of the Union, post-Maastricht development of the Union and relations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Our talks also covered international political issues including the political and security situation in Central and Eastern Europe, latest developments in Russia and the situation in the former-Yugoslavia, Middle East and South Africa. I also took the opportunity to brief Mr. Lubbers on the situation in Northern Ireland. We also briefly touched upon the excellent bilateral relations between Ireland and the Netherlands.
Overall the talks were very useful and constructive and have reinforced the existing good relations between both countries. The exchanges which we had on European Union affairs were particularly useful in the context of preparations for the meeting of the European Council in Corfu in June and indeed in the context of the major issues facing the Union up to and beyond 1996.
Is the Taoiseach satisfied from his discussions that Ireland will retain its commissionership in the arrangements to revise the Treaties in 1996? Did he discuss the adequacy of the Community's response to the situation in Bosnia? Is he satisfied with that response?
We both agreed that the institutional aspect of the Commission, voting rights and the blocking of issues by a majority, were matters for discussion at the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference. We were delighted that the existing 12 member states eventually agreed to that course of action and that efforts by some countries to reduce representation of small countries were not proceeded with.
I think the Taoiseach did not hear my question; perhaps I did not put it correctly. I was asking about Ireland's commissionership which is a different issue from voting rights at the Council of Ministers. Was the question of small countries like Ireland having a Commissioner and being guaranteed one in the post-1996 arrangements discussed and, if so, is the Taoiseach confident that we will retain an Irish Commissioner in an enlarged Community of, say, 20 member states?
Perhaps the Deputy did not hear what I said. This was part of the overall discussion. The historic balance between large and small countries has served the Community well. We both agreed that this is an issue to be considered and agreed upon and we will be taking that position at the 1996 Conference. As to the overall position, we are agreed that small countries need to preserve the existing balance.
Is the Taoiseach satisfied that in 1997 we will have an Irish Commissioner? Is he further satisfied that the powers of the Commission will be preserved and not handed over to either the Parliament or the Council of Ministers in such a way as to be detrimental to the interests of a small country like Ireland?
The Deputy is asking me to speculate on the outcome of the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference. He knows my views and the strong stand I took in relation to any interference with the representation of small nations. I insisted at all times that the agreement reached in Lisbon be upheld and that these matters should not be interfered with until the 1996 Intergovernmental Conference.
Did Prime Minister Lubbers do any canvassing for the job of President of the Commission? If so, what was the Taoiseach's response?
The Deputy should be aware that Mr. Lubbers made it abundantly clear on a number of occasions that while he remains Prime Minister he will not make comment one way or the other in regard to the succession race for President Delors' job. That remains the position and, consequently, the need for my response did not arise.
Did the Taoiseach have discussions with our Commissioner about who we might vote for as President of the Commission? Will he agree that it would be important for a small country to back another small county's nominee? On the rotation of the Presidency, will the Government insist that the Presidency should rotate on an equal basis, even with enlargement?
The Taoiseach is opposed to rotating anything.
The Commissioners will not be electing the President of the Commission. We expect that matter to be decided at the summit in Corfu in June. Consequently, it will be a matter for the Heads of Government to make that decision. I will make my decision in the best interests of this country when I see who is in the field and there is no point in speculating beforehand. Of course we will maintain a position that will give us the strongest possible representation in the new and enlarged Commission.