Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

European Constitution.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2004

Wednesday, 31 March 2004

Ceisteanna (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)

Pat Breen

Ceist:

26 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the outcome of the tripartite summit of France, Germany and the United Kingdom on 18 February 2004; if he is concerned at the development of a two-speed Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10009/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

42 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give his assessment of the prospects of concluding negotiations on a new treaty or constitution for the European Union during the period of the Irish Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9908/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

48 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the progress made in negotiations on an EU constitution, in particular the 20 outstanding issues that he recently cited for the negotiations on the EU constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5891/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

64 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the proposals put forward by the de Borda Institute towards a preference voting system for the Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10014/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

84 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will argue for the retention of the national veto in international trade agreements in the fields of health, education, cultural and audio-visual services, to be included in the draft EU constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter [4403/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

97 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has satisfied himself that the EU is progressing in a cohesive manner with the various treaties and that a two speed or inner core Europe is not emerging; and if he will make a statement on the matter [10051/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Dan Boyle

Ceist:

131 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the views on Mr Jean-Didier Hache, executive secretary of the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions’ Islands Commission, who has said that the rights of 13 million people living in offshore and remote locations must be recognised in the proposed constitution for the European Union. [7722/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

135 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position with regard to ratification of a European Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10288/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 42, 48, 64, 84, 97, 131 and 135 together.

For my general assessment of the situation in the Intergovernmental Conference, I refer Deputies to my reply to Question No. 5.

A major outstanding question in the IGC is the definition of qualified majority voting. A wide range of proposals has been put forward on this issue from member states and third parties, including that advanced by the de Borda Institute, on a preference voting system for the Council of Ministers. In our Presidency report to the European Council, we made clear our belief "that a solution, if it is to command consensus, must be based on the principle of double majority, must allow for greater efficiency in decision-making than the provisions in the current Treaties, and must have due regard to balance among all Member States and to their specific concerns."

As a participant in the IGC, the Government has, with a small number of other member states, supported the retention of unanimity in decision-making on international agreements under the Common Commercial Policy in the areas of health, education and social services. The draft constitutional treaty as it stands provides for unanimity in respect of culture and audio-visual services. As Presidency, it is our task to seek to achieve an overall balanced outcome which is acceptable to all member states.

The Government is aware of the views expressed by the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions on the rights of those living in offshore and remote locations. The draft constitutional treaty includes a number of provisions both of a general and specific nature that can help address the concerns expressed. In particular Article III-116, which deals with economic, social and territorial cohesion, states that: "the Union shall aim at reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of the least favoured regions or islands, including rural areas".

The question of the ratification of the constitutional treaty will be for each member state to decide in accordance with its constitutional requirements. In the case of Ireland, I expect that ratification of the constitutional treaty will require a referendum.

My strong view is that as the European Union continues to enlarge, moving forward together is the best way for Europe to advance. This view is widely shared across the Union and is reflected both in the positive outcome of the European Council and in the collegiate spirit of that meeting.

As was made clear at the time, the Government had no difficulty with the tripartite summit between France, Germany and the United Kingdom on 18 February. It should be noted that the meeting was not the first such summit between the three states and that there are also a number of other groups of member and accession states that meet on a regular basis. As the Union grows, the importance of such bilateral and multilateral contacts will grow. There is also scope in the treaties for enhanced co-operation among groups of member states. What is important is that the structures and procedures of the Union and the interests of all member states are respected.

Barr
Roinn