asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, after his recent appearance on the RTE programme Féach on which the topic of neutrality was discussed, he will indicate if the present Government policy on neutrality is as stated previously.

I would refer the Deputy to my reply to him on 4 May last. There has been no change in the Government's policy on this issue.

As a result of his interview the impression was conveyed of a greater willingness to join in a future European Community defence organisation if such were to result from the evolution of European political co-operation. Would the Minister agree that impression was conveyed?

No, I could not agree. If there has been any change in policy it has not been on these benches since my last statement. No such interpretation should be made of my remarks. I have always made it clear, as I think my predecessor also did, that in the event of political development occurring in Europe and in the event of a situation arising which one would hope never would arise, the Community of which we were a member were under attack, then obviously we would have to face our obligations. Equally, I have made it clear that at no stage in my experience and I believe in my predecessor's experience has this matter been raised. The only place I can see it raised as an issue all the time is here by way of suggestion and speculation, that what is not happening is happening.

In regard to the possibility of a future departure, membership of a defence organisation in Europe, does the Minister base it now—the change in emphasis, our present neutrality and a future change in that policy—on the evolution of political co-operation? In other words, if political co-operation intensifies, in fact it follows?

No. Political co-operation does not involve co-ordination of a common foreign policy. In addition, there is as yet no common foreign policy in the Community.

At present.

If there were any such suggestions we would hope——

Would the Minister agree that the particular formulation used, that if the Community were attacked we would have to defend it is a new formulation of our position, which in the past, both by the preceding Government and the Minister's previous Government, has been formulated in somewhat different terms in relation to the possible evolution of the European Community on a federal basis?

I shall refer the Deputy to a formulation of the former Taoiseach, Mr. Lemass, in relation to this, namely, that if the occasion arose we would face our responsibilities as a member of the Community if it were under attack.

Will the Minister give the reference? I have no recollection of Mr. Lemass putting it in those terms. My understanding is that it has always been formulated in terms of the evolution of the Community.