John Bruton
Ceist:5 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the written communications, if any, he has had in the past two months with the President of the European Commission. [26636/98]
Ceisteanna—Questions. - Departmental Correspondence.
I have had no written communication with the President of the European Commission within the last two months. However, I met him on 19 November and we discussed a number of issues which I outlined to the House following that meeting.
Did the Taoiseach write to him about duty free sales?
I have spoken to him numerous times about duty free sales. As the Deputy is aware we have had a number of meetings in September, October and November. I also met him during his visit to Ireland. I am sure the President knows my views on duty free sales better than he knows anybody elses.
Will the Taoiseach consider communicating with the President of the Commission about the deplorable proposals on agriculture contained in Agenda 2000 which, if proceeded with, will destroy commercial agriculture in Ireland?
As I reported last week, we again outlined at some length and comprehensively, as we have done since the proposals were presented on 18 March, our major concerns about the proposals on agriculture. At that meeting I stressed the importance of milk and beef to Ireland which accounts for 80 per cent of our output and 4 per cent of our GDP. I again raised our strong objections about the co-financing proposals which were being discussed. I hope the Commission will be supportive as we move into the negotiation phase in the spring.
Does the Taoiseach agree we are rapidly heading towards renationalisation and the dismantling of the Common European Policy, the first ever common European policy, in the context of the financing proposals and the development of individual domestic markets in, for example, beef, where French consumers will only buy French beef? Does he agree that in such circumstances the Common Market will no longer be common and that the Government must take a very strong stand on the matter to ensure that one of the first achievements of European unification is not thrown aside?
The question refers to letters over the past two months and not to the future programme.
It refers to letters he did not write but should have written.
When the Deputy was Taoiseach he did not allow anybody ask a question.
It was not necessary.
We have made our proposals regarding renationalisation very clear.
The Taoiseach is performing adequately and does not need the help of his deputy leader, if she still holds that position.
Has the Taoiseach written to the President of the Commission, Jacques Santer, in relation to the application made by Ireland with respect to regionalisation? If not, why not?
The question refers to the past two months.
The application has been made to EUROSTAT. There have been a number of detailed meeting and at least one detailed meeting with the Department of Finance last week.
In view of the delay in the submission of the application to EUROSTAT caused by the Cork by-election, and having regard to the necessity——
The Deputy is straying substantially from the scope of the question.
I am talking about correspondence to the President of the Commission in the past two months.
I understand from the Taoiseach's reply that there was no correspondence.
I am asking him why there was no correspondence, as he may have inadvertently failed to answer the question. I am seeking the indulgence of the Ceann Comhairle to allow me facilitate the Taoiseach in correcting the record, as I am sure Deputy Healy-Rae would be distraught to learn that the Taoiseach had not written to the President of the Commission who will have a role in this matter. Did the Taoiseach consider writing to the President of the Commission to reinforce the sense of importance the Irish Government attaches to its application for regionalisation which has been made to EUROSTAT? If he did, why did he not fulfil such a consideration?
The question does not refer to letters which the Taoiseach considered writing.
To quote George Bernard Shaw, "If I had the time I would have written you a short letter. However, I didn't so I am writing you a long letter."
Before referring to the letter, I apologise to my Minister of State who has not had an opportunity to answer questions since June as I have taken the two hours each week.
I am not upset about that.
That is why my supplementary questions are so short.
On Tuesday I will not be here as I will meet Chancellor Schroeder and perhaps the Minister of State will have an opportunity to speak about the millennium which will be over if he soon does not do so.
I assure Deputy Quinn that all the cases necessary have been made to the Commission. As the Deputy is aware I used the opportunity of his conference in Cork to speak to the Commissioner.
The Taoiseach nearly crashed it.
The Deputy seems mistaken in his view that we delayed the application. We were only having the meeting on that occasion in Cork.
I know exactly what happened.
We have made our application to EUROSTAT. The Commission is aware of our views.
How is it aware? Has it been written to?
I met the President of the Commission here a few weeks ago and made him aware of my views.
The Taoiseach said the Commission is aware of the Government's views. Normally there would be a minute of such a transaction held by each side. Is he telling the House there is a minute in the records of the Government of how it made its views known to the Commission?
I am sure there are minutes.
Is the application to EUROSTAT available?
The FOI might——
I do not need FOI in these matters. My meeting in Cork, despite that fact that only three people attended it, still managed to get into the national newspapers.
I want to know what was agreed, not what was spun.
We had already submitted out application to EUROSTAT.
The Government had not done so at that time.
We had when I met the President of the Commission. The meeting in Cork was in a public place.
It was in a public place but not in the public domain.
Are there any late applications?
For west Cork.