§ Lord Swinfenasked Her Majesty's Government:
What declaration was made on Protocol 17 to the Treaty on European Union which was agreed by European Community Foreign Ministers at Guimaraes on 1st and 2nd May.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)On 2nd May, EC Foreign Ministers agreed the text of the following declaration on Protocol 17 to the Treaty on European Union:
The High Contracting Parties to the Treaty on European Union signed at Maastricht on the 7th day of February 1992
Having considered the terms of Protocol No 17 to the said Treaty on European Union which is annexed to that Treaty and to the Treaties establishing the European Communities
Hereby give the following legal intepretation: that it was and is their intention that the Protocol shall not limit freedom to travel between member States or in accordance with conditions which may be laid down, in conformity with Community law, by Irish legislation to obtain or make available in Ireland information relating to services lawfully available in Member States.
At the same time the High Contracting Parties solemnly declare that, in the event of a future constitutional amendment in Ireland which concerns the subject matter of Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution of Ireland and which does not conflict with the intention of the High Contracting Parties hereinbefore expressed, they will, following the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union be favourably disposed to amending the said Protocol so as to extend its application to such constitutional amendment if Ireland so requests.