Bertie Ahern
Ceist:3 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. [6384/96]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meeting with Czech Republic Prime Minister.
I had a meeting with Prime Minister Klaus of the Czech Republic on 21 February 1996. The meeting was devoted to an exchange of views on European issues. The issues discussed included enlargement of the European Union, economic and monetary union, the priorities of the Irish Presidency and the security situation in Europe. I found the meeting to be most useful especially in the perspective of Ireland's forthcoming Presidency of the European Union.
Will the Taoiseach agree the Czech Republic is potentially one of our most important trading partners in eastern Europe? Will he explain to the House what the Government is doing to stimulate trade and exports with the Czech Republic?
As the House is aware, we have a resident embassy in Prague in the Czech Republic — one of the few countries in eastern Europe in which we have such an embassy. The Ambassador there, Ms Cross, is working effectively in Irish interests in so far as promoting trade is concerned. The visit of the Czech Prime Minister also afforded as an opportunity to develop our links. The Prime Minister wrote an article about his visit to Ireland in which he was very complimentary to it and expressed the view his country had known little in the past about Ireland but that he expected to have much greater economic and political links with it in future. The discussions the Prime Minister and I had will be useful in developing trade links. A number of business contacts were also made during the visit.
The previous Czech Prime Minister and half his cabinet visited Ireland a few years ago so I am surprised they did not have a degree of knowledge about Ireland. Is there any plan to stimulate trade and exports? In my meeting with the Czech Prime Minister he made the point that the figures were low and he was anxious to develop trade. Have the Taoiseach's discussion led to a plan for the next few years? Who is given responsibility to advance the matter? Experience over the last 50 years tells us that embassies are not best at promoting such matters.
The trade board and the industrial development authority are reviewing the Czech market all the time. They are aware of the market's potential. It is one of the fastest growing markets in central Europe. All agencies have been instructed to do everything possible to develop this market. There is a question of resources involved. A number of Irish companies are already active in the Czech market and there are a number of Irish business consultants working in Prague who understand the Irish and Czech situations and are available to assist Irish firms to develop this market. They have the full support of the embassy. I am not aware of any problems arising with regard to the potential of the Czech market which relate to a lack of commitment or resources but if such problems are drawn to my attention I will deal with them.
In the context of the Taoiseach's membership of the Troika and our upcoming presidency of the EU, can the Taoiseach outline a timeframe on the enlargement question which was raised with the Czech Prime Minister? Is there a timeframe for Czech membership of the EU and what guarantees are there in relation to cohesion and other issues?
As the Deputy is aware the negotiations will not open until the Intergovernmental Conference is over. The date for commencing the negotiations depends on the date of the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference. We will do all we can during our presidency to advance the work of the Intergovernmental Conference and conclude it as quickly as possible. Thereby, we will create conditions in which negotiations for enlargement can begin. However, they will not begin until the Intergovernmental Conference is concluded and, therefore, it would be premature to offer any indications of a timeframe for the enlargement negotiations. The Deputy is aware that the negotiations for enlargement are conducted in the first instance by the Commission rather than the Council of Ministers.