asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the outcome of the Washington conference means in fact that Ireland has joined a bloc of oil consuming countries; and, if so, if he will explain the reasons for the decision.
80.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Washington Conference.
79.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the attitude adopted by the Irish Government at the recent Washington meeting represents any change in Ireland's position on European defence and foreign policy generally.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose taking Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together.
The principal decision adopted at the Washington conference was to establish a co-ordinating group of senior officials to direct and co-ordinate the development of actions to deal with the energy crisis. The main function of this co-ordinating group is to prepare for a conference of consumer and producer countries which will be held at the earliest possible opportunity. Provision was made for the co-ordinating group to invite as appropriate other countries to join with them in their efforts. In addition it was agreed that the preparation for the conference of consumer and producer countries should involve consultations with developing countries and other consumer and producer countries.
There is, therefore, no question of a bloc in this context; once the conference of consumer and producer countries has been held the raison d'être of the co-ordinating group will no longer exist. Any ad hoc groups established by the co-ordinating group should also “die” once they have completed the specific assignments given them.
Ireland's interventions at the conference were directed particularly towards maintaining the cohesion of the member states of the European Community. This attitude was entirely in keeping with our European policy in particular and with our foreign policy generally. Defence questions did not, and could not, arise in any shape or form.
Is the Minister satisfied that the American initiative in this matter was not, in fact, prompted by defence questions or considerations of American influence in Europe?
I do not think I could comment on the intentions of other governments. It is not within my competence to know what their intentions are, but there is nothing in what happened at the conference to indicate it had any defence implications.
Is it not rather strange that the conference was in fact confined to the European Community countries and the United States?
No. The position was that the conference consisted of members of the OECD Energy Committee, including five members of the European Community, as it happens, plus other countries like Norway, Japan and Canada. In view of the particular interest of the European Community the other four European Community countries, not members of that committee, were also at a certain point invited to attend. We were among the other four and we attended. It was not, in fact, a conference of the United States and the European Community. It was a conference of the Energy Committee of the OECD with the other members of the European Community, who are not members of that committee, also present.
Can the Minister assure the House that this country's traditional neutrality will not in any way be compromised by any associations with or any consequences that may follow from such ad hoc conferences as the Minister has suggested?
Not in the least. I think the Deputy is barking up a wrong tree here. Japan, which is a member of NATO, was there also, for example. There is no question of defence coming in in any shape or form at this conference. I can assure the Deputy of that; there are no defence implications whatever in this.
Is the Minister satisfied that there was no question of American influence and involvement in Europe? There was no question either of America's projection of its position in European politics?
The question of America's relationship with Europe was involved. Indeed, that became evident from the divergence of opinion between European Community countries as to the appropriate response. What I am saying is that the defence side had nothing whatever to do with it.
Who invited Ireland to the conference?
The United States invited a number of countries to the conference and subsequently added to the original list the four European Community countries, which were not members of the OECD Energy Committee, following correspondence with the present EEC Council of Ministers.
So the invitation to us was from the United States?
Yes, to all presidents, from the United States.