asked the Taoiseach if, in view of Ireland's exceptional unemployment level, he will seek special aid at the forthcoming EEC Summit specifically to reduce our unemployment rate to at least the average pertaining throughout the EEC.

2.

asked the Taoiseach if, in view of the weakness of economic recovery within the EEC and the consequent need to stimulate investment, he will raise at the forthcoming Brussels summit the issue of demanding action from the United States to lower interest rates.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

The matters to be discussed at European Council meetings and the order in which they are taken are settled at the meeting by the participating Heads of State or Government. The Deputy can be assured that at the forthcoming meeting in Brussels I will be pressing for full attention for all matters of relevance to Ireland and the Community.

I should like to suggest to the Taoiseach that considering that Article 104 of the Treaty of Rome specifically asks each member state to secure a high level of employment and that it was largely on this assumption, as was stated in the White Paper of 1972, that we joined the EEC, we have a strong case before the Heads of State of Europe to make a special plea in regard to unemployment. Is the Taoiseach aware that the convergence of member state economies, particularly the convergence in unemployment figures, is a major objective of the EEC? Considering that our unemployment rate is 17 per cent, and worsening by the day, while the European average is 11 per cent, does the Taoiseach hold the view that European action to assist us in this time of crisis is a legitimate request, not a begging bowl request, Ireland being one of the more difficult areas in Europe? On the figures alone, particularly those released in recent days, will the Taoiseach agree that Ireland now rates as a disaster area in Europe in regard to unemployment? Will the Taoiseach accept that it is legitimate for him to say to the Heads of State at the meeting that Ireland seeks special assistance to at least help get us down to the European average of unemployment, which is 11 per cent? We are sticking out in Europe as an absolute disgrace in regard to unemployment.

The Deputy must confine himself to putting a question.

The points made by the Deputy, even if not in order, are cogent ones. The fact is that the European Social Fund, the fund that produces resources of nearest relevance to this problem, is one from which we are already major beneficiaries, indeed to a greater extent than we anticipated when we joined the Community. Having said that, we would be concerned to secure, as far as possible, a reorientation of Community policies in the direction of unemployment, in the direction of dealing with the problems of unemployment specifically. I will not pretend to the Deputy that that will be easy, although there is a general consensus for a movement in that direction. I share the Deputy's concern that the Community should address these problems in a more thorough and effective way than it has done hitherto.

I should like to ask the Taoiseach if he accepts the view that convergence of economic policies is a specific aim of the EEC and that what is happening with regard to the employment policy in the EEC is divergence, that Ireland is totally out of line with virtually all its neighbours and most of the Western world? It is not just an economic recession. Ireland has special difficulties. Will the Taoiseach consider raising this point? Will be consider saying to the other Heads of State: "Look, Ireland has a particular problem and, although I know Ireland does well from the Social Fund, from the figures it can be seen that our country is a difficult area and will the community take account of that?" The Taoiseach should ask for that treatment if for no other reason than to even out the regional imbalances.

The Deputy is going far beyond the terms of the question.

Will the Taoiseach consider raising this as an item on the agenda?

I would not want to comment on that at this stage. These meetings have their own internal dynamic. The Deputy will be aware that this meeting is potentially a very crucial one for the Community and the issue that has to be faced is whether agreement can be reached on the continued expansion of Community resources, which at this point are effectively exhausted in relation to existing or new policies. It is towards that that we have to direct ourselves primarily at this meeting. That that should be the case and that we should be having to face an issue of that kind, and that the Community should not have the resources to tackle a problem like this, must be a matter of regret and concern to all of us. However, the reality is that this meeting is one which has to determine not only a specific issue of vital importance to Ireland, the super-levy, but also whether the additional resources will be available for the development of new policies or the expansion of existing ones. It is on that issue that we have to concentrate at this point in time. I do not wish to diminish the force of what the Deputy has said, with which I agree, although we have to be conscious of the fact in presenting our case in Brussels that we are in a way which is not true of any other country a major net beneficiary from Community funds. The Community is already providing us with resources to help to reduce our economic problems to a significant degree.

Will the Taoiseach consider my proposal, which is a positive one, between now and the meeting?

I accept the inherent reasonableness of the Deputy's approach. As to the way we approach this meeting, that has to be a matter of judgment as we move into what will be a very critical meeting.