Dáil Éireann - Volume 412 - 07 November, 1991

Written Answers. - EC Treaty Proposals.

Mr. McGahon Mr. McGahon

737

[737] 11. Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg draft EC Treaty revision to introduce qualified majority voting, instead of unanimity, in the EC Council of Ministers in regard to each of the following (a) energy (b) trans-European networks (c) competitiveness of industry (d) tourism (e) consumer protection (f) health protection (g) civil protection (h) culture and (i) development co-operation.

Mr. Carey Mr. Carey

17. Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg draft EC Treaty revision to introduce qualified majority voting, instead of unanimity, in the EC Council of Ministers in regard to each of the following (a) energy (b) trans-European networks (c) competitiveness of industry (d) tourism (e) consumer protection (f) health protection (g) civil protection (h) culture and (i) development co-operation.

Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley

18. Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg Draft Treaty on the Union of the European Community that there be unanimous voting in regard to proposals concerning the system of own resources of the European Communities.

Mr. Lowry Mr. Lowry

21. Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg Draft EC Treaty revision to introduce qualified majority voting, instead of unanimity, in the EC Council of Ministers in regard to each of the following (a) energy (b) trans-European networks (c) competitiveness of industry (d) tourism (e) consumer protection (f) health protection (g) civil protection (h) culture and (i) development co-operation.

Mr. Cosgrave Mr. Cosgrave

738

[738] 30. Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg Draft Treaty on the Union of the European Community that there be unanimous voting in regard to proposals concerning the system of own resources of the European Communities.

Mr. D'Arcy Mr. D'Arcy

52. Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg Draft Treaty on the Union of the European Community that there be unanimous voting in regard to proposals concerning the system of own resources of the European Communities.

Mr. McGinley Mr. McGinley

82. Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg draft EC Treaty revision to introduce qualified majority voting, instead of unanimity, in the EC Council of Ministers in regard to each of the following (a) energy (b) trans-European networks (c) competitiveness of industry (d) tourism (e) consumer protection (f) health protections (g) civil protection (h) culture and (i) development co-operation.

Mr. Doyle Mr. Doyle

88. Mr. Doyle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the Dutch Presidency proposals to the Intergovernmental Conference on European Political Union in relation to changes in the voting procedures used in the Council of Ministers.

Mr. Finucane Mr. Finucane

96. Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg Draft Treaty on the Union of the European Community that there be unanimous voting in regard to proposals concerning the system of own resources of the European Communities.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins) Gerard Collins

739

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins): I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 17, 18, 21, 30, 52, 82, 88 and 96 together since they have been put down [739] in similar and in some cases identical terms.

The efficiency and the effectiveness of the Community and its Institutions has been one of the themes running through the negotiations on Political Union. One of the most direct ways of improving the efficiency of decision-making process would be to extend, wherever possible, the use of qualified majority voting in Council of Ministers. However, the negotiations on the voting procedures to be used in the Council of Ministers are still continuing in the Intergovernmental Conference and I will not prejudge the outcome of this issue by commenting on individual areas.

Ireland is willing to study proposals for an extension of qualified majority voting on a case by case basis.

Dáil Éireann 412 Written Answers. EC Treaty Proposals.

Questions

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