It is proposed to take No. 1.
Order of Business.
May I propose a small amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 23 on the Order Paper be added to No. 1? It is a motion in the names of Senator Robinson and myself. I have very specific reasons for urging this on the House. In the first place, this being a Thursday, we would in the normal course of events be entitled to speak to a motion on this day. Secondly, I can think of no more suitable motion to discuss in connection with No. 1, however narrowly we may interpret No. 1.
Everybody is agreed that the passing of this Bill and its subsequent ratification by the referendum and accession to the Common Market would involve a certain loss of sovereignty. What our motion is about is to balance this situation: it is an attempt to ensure that we do not appear to pass this legislation and enter the Common Market like lambs going to the slaughter but with a definite positive view of our own about the quid pro quo that we will demand for making the kind of concessions written into this Bill.
It may be objected that taking this motion at this time is inappropriate in that the Bill itself has not been passed and the referendum has not been held. I would answer that simply by pointing to the fact that this motion says no more, although perhaps it says it in rather stronger terms, than the Taoiseach himself expressed when he signed the Treaty of Accession in Brussels not long ago. I would urge this on the House if only to allow us to make the point, as a House of the Oireachtas, that we are not going into the Common Market like sheep. It is fair to say that people in the other countries are looking at events in Ireland. They are not just looking at events in Ireland in connection with what is happening in the North. They are also looking very keenly at our developing attitude to the Common Market.
I think the Senator is tending to go into the merits of Motion No. 23 which is not appropriate to the Order of Business.
I apologise to the Chair. I was trying to make an argument for taking the particular motion at this particular time. I will end with the point that an agreement to take this motion would be of considerable significance at this time for our application for membership.
It would be unfair to the Parliamentary Secretary and undesirable as far as the Members of the House are concerned to attempt to discuss this motion without any notice of it. It is, I understand, intended to have a separate discussion on the merits of joining the European Communities at a later date and possibly Motion No. 23 could be taken at that time. I do not believe anybody is in a position to discuss it this morning.
Could we have agreement that on the general discussion this motion would be taken with it?
It would be appropriate.
Could we have some assurance from the Acting Leader of the House as to when this general debate will take place? Will it be before or after Easter?
I cannot say just now but I will make inquiries and let the House know as soon as possible, bearing in mind that I take it the House would like to have the debate as soon as possible.
I take it that the promise of a debate then, which would be very wide ranging and very necessary, would not unduly inhibit reasonable discussion on the proposals before us today.
Order of Business agreed to.