An Inconvenient Wait: Ireland's Quest for Membership of the EEC, 1957-73

Abstract

An Inconvenient Wait challenges the traditional view that Ireland’s application for membership of the Community was a response to similar moves by Britain. The author presents a detailed analysis of the domestic and external events that impacted on Dublin’s failed 1961 and 1967 bids for membership. Geary explores, for the first time, the successful 1970-2 enlargement negotiations and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of Ireland’s negotiating team, led by Patrick Hillery. The book provides an important analysis of the May 1972 Irish referendum, examining the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ campaigns.

The Epilogue delves into the controversial Treaty of Lisbon debate after Irish voters decisively rejected the treaty in June 2008. Is this just another crisis to affect the European integration process or is it something bigger? Where did the Irish government go wrong with Lisbon? How can they get it right? The book attempts to offer timely suggestions to practitioners and the general public.

This book is an exploration in policy development and formation in a country on the verge of massive economic and political, if not social, change. It traces the changing stance of Ireland’s historically comfortable and preferred position of economic dependence, and how in the blink of an eye this course was altered by wider political imperatives and international developments.