Brussels, 20/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - Noel Dorr, Ireland's personal representative in the IGC Preparatory Group, this week set out his country's stance on the EU's ongoing institutional reform before the European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs, noting in particular that, so far, the "yes" had easily won the day in each referenda organised in Ireland on European issues, but that the situation could be more complicated in future. Throughout his exposé, Noel Dorr stressed that the "small" countries needed European institutions, and in particular a strong Commission, to protect their interests. And, citing the latest speech by Romano Prodi to the European Parliament, said: we need a strong Commission, legitimate and effective, in which everyone can see themselves. Ireland, therefore, obviously does not want to give up its Commissioner. Stressing that the debate on the future of Europe should not jeopardize the present, Mr. Dorr said he was concerned at seeing that so far those speaking in the debate had hardly ever placed emphasis on the important role the Commission played…
As for Qualified majority voting, Mr. Dorr said that Ireland could agree to its extension to a further 17 articles, but not, in particular, to issues like asylum, taxation (except in combating fraud) and the social model. Eight other Member States even more against moving from unanimity to a qualified majority than is Ireland, he also pointed out. In answer to British Liberal-Democrat Andrew Duff who asked whether today we were not seeing a kind of "British contagion" in Ireland, Mr. Dorr replied: no, there is no contagion, and we are not in favour of the primacy of the intergovernmental method, precisely because the Community method is essential for small countries. Ireland has an open attitude in discussions over enhanced cooperation, but believes that a majority of Member States should participate; in addition, it warns against the danger of fragmentation and a lack of cohesion within the Union.
Asked about the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Mr. Dorr recognised that his country would have problems in giving it a legal character and, in answer to the possibility of a reference to the Charter in Article 6 of the Treaty, he said he feared that would lead to the necessity of convening another referendum in Ireland.