19 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the provisions in Title XIV and XV of the Luxembourg Draft Treaty of the Union of the European Community in regard to industry and tourism in so far as the provisions in regard to industry impose a very firm obligation on the Community to ensure that certain things happen whereas the provisions in regard to tourism merely refer to the encouragement of co-operation; and his views on whether the provisions in regard to tourism should be strengthened.

25 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the provisions in Title XIV and XV of the Luxembourg Draft Treaty of the Union of the European Community in regard to industry and tourism in so far as the provisions in regard to industry impose a very firm obligation on the Community to ensure that certain things happen whereas the provisions in regard to tourism merely refer to the encouragement of co-operation; and his views on whether the provisions in regard to tourism should be strengthened.

51 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the provisions in Title XIV and XV of the Luxembourg Draft Treaty of the Union of the European Community in regard to industry and tourism in so far as the provisions in regard to industry impose a very firm obligation on the Community to ensure that certain things happen whereas the provisions in regard to tourism merely refer to the encouragement of co-operation; and his views on whether the provisions in regard to tourism should be strengthened.

86 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the provisions in Title XIV and XV of the Luxembourg Draft Treaty of the Union of the European Community in regard to industry and tourism in so far as the provisions in regard to industry impose a very firm obligation on the Community to ensure that certain things happen whereas the provisions in regard to tourism merely refer to the encouragement of co-operation; and his views on whether the provisions in regard to tourism should be strengthened.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 25, 51 and 86 together since they have been put down in identical terms.

The negotiations on future competences in the revised draft Treaty have not yet been completed. The texts on industry and tourism to which the Deputy refers are ones which have yet to be considered at ministerial level.

As regards the industry proposal, Ireland does not favour a specific article. Our view, at this stage and subject to a final package at the end of the negotiation, is that the Community has sufficient competences to ensure the development of an industrial policy. As far as tourism is concerned, and subject again to further negotiation in the Inter-governmental Conference, we feel that the proposal made by Luxembourg reflects the views of member states on the extent to which Community co-operation is possible in this area.

20 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg Draft EC Treaty provisions which would allow the European Court to interpret EC agreements on visa policy and asylum policy and on matters of criminal law.

28 Mr. O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg Draft EC Treaty revision which would allow the European Court to interpret EC agreements on visa policy and asylum policy and on matters of criminal law.

40 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his views on the proposals in the Luxembourg Draft EC Treaty revision which would allow the European Court to interpret EC agreements on visa policy and asylum policy and on matters of criminal law.

68 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the proposal in Article 235A of the Luxembourg Draft EC Treaty revisions which would allow the EC to extend its sphere of activities into home and judicial affairs.

89 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the proposal in Article 235A of the Luxembourg Draft EC Treaty revisions which would allow the EC to extend its sphere of activities into home and judicial affairs.

99 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the proposal in Article 235A of the Luxembourg Draft EC Treaty revisions which would allow the EC to extend its sphere of activities into home and judicial affairs.

102 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the proposal in Article 235A of the Luxembourg Draft EC Treaty revisions which would allow the EC to extend its sphere of activities into home and judicial affairs.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 28, 40, 68, 89, 99 and 102 together since they have been put down in similar and, in some cases, identical terms.

The current Presidency text derives from a proposal put forward Chancellor Kohl and President Mitterrand in December 1990 for the extension of Community competence to immigration, visa policy, asylum policy, the fight against drugs and organised international crime. Until now co-operation in these areas has been carried out at an inter-governmental level and has not been a matter of Community competence.