Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Dec 2000

Vol. 527 No. 3

Written Answers. - Nice Treaty.

Liam Lawlor

Ceist:

113 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will clarify the situation regarding the signing of the EU Treaty at Nice which is due to take place in early January 2001; if he will confirm that the Nice Treaty is in effect a Constitution for the European Union; if he will refer to the proposed Article 280A which would give the EU public prosecutor and Europol police officers supreme powers in member states; the implications attendant upon any future amendment to the Constitution in the context of an overarching EU Constitution; when copies of the proposed treaty will be publicly available; and the reason a matter of such importance is not the subject of a plebiscite in each member state of the European Union. [28157/00]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

In my response to questions on 28 November, I provided the House with a comprehensive account of developments with regard to the intergovernmental conference. The question of the constitutional implications, if any, of the proposed treaty will be a matter for appropriate legal advice at the conclusion of the negotiations. While the discussions are continuing, I can confirm that changes in the criminal law area of the kind mentioned by the Deputy are not envisaged. The question of procedures for the ratification of International Instruments is a matter for each member state in accordance with its own constitutional and legislative provisions. Copies of Intergovernmental Conference documents are available on the appropriate European Union website.