Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 10 Oct 1996

Vol. 469 No. 7

Written Answers. - Protection of Irish Interests.

Ray Burke

Ceist:

85 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the way in which the Government intends to protect Irish interests in the European Commission in view of the possibility that smaller EU members may lose their EU Commissioner in the event of the expansion of the EU. [18147/96]

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring):

The Intergovernmental Conference has been convened for the purpose of considering possible changes to the EU Treaties. Any changes to the Treat must, of course, be agreed unanimously.

The composition of the European Commission is one of the issues which is under consideration at the Intergovernmental Conference. The Government's firm view is that the further enlargement of the Union should not affect the right of every member state to nominate a full member of the European Commission. This is a view which is shared by several other member states.

To deprive member states of the right to nominate a Commissioner would, in the Government's view, be likely to weaken the Commission in its central role, which Ireland fully supports, in the process of European integration.