Irish Parliament 1972
Topic A: Accession to the European Economic Community
If the Dáil chooses to join the EEC, delegates must amend the constitutional clause declaring Irish law solely sovereign, since Ireland would need to recognize EEC laws, and this amendment should appear in their preambulatory clauses. Resolutions should function as a treaty between Ireland and the EEC, balancing compromises with strategic exceptions, especially in agriculture and fishing, two key Irish industries. The goal is a mutually beneficial agreement that protects the Irish economy and reflects public will. Delegates should also consider Ireland’s motive for joining: is it being pulled in by its dependence on the UK, or taking a proactive step toward growth and global influence?
Topic B: Economic Indpendence
Barely fifty years after independence, Ireland still relies heavily on the UK, which received 61% of Irish exports in 1972 under the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Agreement. Viewed by EEC members as having little economic potential, Ireland has much to prove. If the Dáil chooses not to join the EEC, delegates must draft a comprehensive package of economic policies that lets Ireland compete with the bloc. This is also a chance to project a distinct Irish national identity on the world stage, free from British influence and the conflict of a divided island.