Exchange on Services and Article 133 in Dail Yesterday between Joe Higgins/Taoiseach/Ruairi Quinn -

national | miscellaneous | news report Thursday October 17, 2002 10:54 by Article 133 Information Group

Taoiseach accuses Opponent of raising white elephant

(Must have white elephants on his mind these days)

Full text of exchange between An Taoiseach and Joe Higgins TD:

The Taoiseach: On number one in regard to Article 133 the Deputy's suggestion is totally untrue. Article 133 of the Treaty of the European Union provides the legal basis and procedure for the EU to engage in international trade negotiations. The Nice treaty proposes to amend the article to provide that decisions on EU participation in these negotiations are taken in the same way as decisions are taken on EU internal rules on a range of issues. This amendment is logical, particularly following enlargement. It will improve the effective of EU participation in trade negotiations without diminishing member states' involvement in them. It is particularly relevant
in relation to the ongoing multilateral negotiations in the World Trade
Organisation on the further liberalisation of world trade in goods and services. The suggestion, which Deputy Higgins made and has made outside this House, that the Nice treaty's provisions could force the privatisation of Irish public services such as health and education, the two he mentioned-----

Mr. J. Higgins: I did not say that. The Taoiseach has misquoted me.

Mr. Naughten: Sewage and water.

Mr. Kenny: Deputy Higgins was speaking absolute rubbish.

Mr. J. Higgins: I said water and post offices.

The Taoiseach: -----or in respect of any other service via the World
Trade Organisation is totally incorrect. The WTO's general agreement on trade expressly provides that all WTO members can legitimately regulate and economic and non-economic sectors within their territory to guarantee the achievement of public objectives. That could not be clearer. Will the Deputy put an end to that bloody red herring? Will he do that?

Mr. J. Higgins: Will the Taoiseach agree-----

The Taoiseach: I quoted from what the Deputy said.

An Ceann Comhairle: Deputy Higgins, allow the Taoiseach to continue.

Mr. J. Higgins: -----that the negotiations can extend to public services?

An Ceann Comhairle: Deputy Higgins had an opportunity to put his questions. I ask him to resume his seat.

Mr. Quinn: It does not.
Mr. J. Higgins: It does.
The Taoiseach: It does not. The Deputy is an intelligent person. The
agreement expressly provides that all WTO members can legitimately regulate economic and non-economic sectors within their own territory. That means within one's own country. That means here.

Mr. J. Higgins: Can public services be included in the negotiations?

An Ceann Comhairle: Deputy Higgins, allow the Taoiseach to continue.
The Deputy was afforded the courtesy of putting questions without interruption.

The Taoiseach: The Deputy knows that is a white elephant. He should stop raising it. On the second issue----

Mr. Quinn: I think the Taoiseach meant to say "a red herring".

The Taoiseach: What did I say?

Mr. Quinn: A white elephant.