Jones Dail: Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Jones Dail: Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:615;Page:11252] 
DAIL JONES (NZ First) 
: 
 New Zealand First was advised of this matter by a letter dated 16 February which we received on 17 February and which we actioned on 17 February. The matter was the subject of questions in the House last week. I know that Mr Simon Power when he raised a question on it during the second reading of this bill was unaware that the letter had been written. I would have thought that by now the National Party has acquainted itself with the letter written by the Minister and that perhaps at National’s caucus meeting or somewhere its members have familiarised themselves with its contents and know what would be coming before the House. I compliment the Government on contacting all political parties. I am disappointed that the National Party does not seem to take any notice of correspondence sent to it. Perhaps it thinks that the time has come when it can ignore everything and just look at the polls and that it does not have to do any work for the next 18 months. Well New Zealand First is prepared to continue working and looks forward to being in Government none the less after the next election because we will continue to work. 
Reading the letter I see that on page 2 the very points raised by Mr Mapp are covered. It talks about the agreement and about the European Commission seeking the conferral on it of various privileges and suchlike. All the matters raised by Mr Mapp are in the letter. My concern when I read the letter was to make sure its points were transferred to the legislation and I commend the law draftsperson on working so efficiently and promptly in such a short space of time. 
I reiterate the point I made at the beginning. We seem to have too many members in this Parliament. To have two National Party members trying to raise objections about something that is very simple indicates we have far too many members in this Parliament and 99 as suggested by New Zealand First is a much better number. 
 This is urgent legislation and the National Party does not seem to have grasped that fact. This legislation is important in order to have proper dialogue with the European Union. Dr Mapp and Dr Lockwood Smith do not seem to understand the way in which diplomatic situations work. It is a pity that they did not read the letter and it is a pity that Dr Lockwood Smith a farming representative does not represent the wishes of the farming communities. When countries such as Poland which has about 40 million people and a vast agricultural base join the European Union we will want to make sure they understand what New Zealand is all about. People might think little countries like Estonia Latvia and Lithuania are not very important but each of them will have a vote in the European Union. Although the voting patterns have not yet been finally decided because of the German and French views those countries will have votes and the sooner we make contact with the European Union and have contact with those countries the better. I recommend to members the very good Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website on the matter. Of course other countries like Slovakia Slovenia Malta Cyprus and Hungary will all be playing a part in the new European Union and the sooner we get the European Union delegation here and have a dialogue with it the better. The sooner the National Party and perhaps ACT get on and support this legislation the better.