Vol. 552 No. 2
42 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress made to date in the discussions with other EU leaders regarding a declaration at the Seville European Council meeting confirming that Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality is not affected by the European treaties; if a draft of such a declaration has been prepared for discussion with other EU leaders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11528/02]
43 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the wording for the Government's proposed declaration to the Nice treaty has been finalised for the upcoming EU Summit in Seville; if so, the wording in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11499/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together.
Since this issue arose at the Barcelona European Council, work has proceeded on drafting a declaration confirming that Ireland's policy of military neutrality is unaffected by the treaties. The draft declaration will be a matter for the incoming Government to consider, as will the progress of consultations in pursuit of it with our EU partners. These consultations would take place in the context of the welcome at the Barcelona European Council for the approach outlined by the Taoiseach, and the Council's willingness to contribute in every possible way to supporting the Government.
As has been previously made clear, the declaration will form part of the Government's overall strategy of addressing the factors which lay behind the defeat of the Nice treaty referendum. Steps have also been taken to provide for better Oireachtas scrutiny of EU matters and, through the Forum on Europe, to have a national debate on "issues relevant to Ireland's membership of an enlarging Union and to consider the range of topics arising in the context of the debate on the future of Europe".
