On 22 January 1972, in Brussels, Patrick Hillery, Irish Foreign Minister (on the left) and Jack Lynch, Prime Minister (on the right), sign Ireldand's Treaty of Accession to the European Communities.

On 22 January 1972, Walter Hallstein, Joseph Bech, Paul-Henri Spaak, Jean Monnet, Jean-Charles Snoy et d'Oppuers et Jean Duvieusart, in particular, attend the ceremony to mark the signature of the Treaties of Accession of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom to the European Communities.

On 1 January 1973, Sean Padraig Kennan (on the right), Permanent Representative of the Republic of Ireland to the European Communities, hands his letter of credentials to André Dubois (Director-Secretary General of the Council).

In the early 1970s, Denmark, the United Kingdom and Ireland resolutely seek to join the European Economic Community (EEC). The three applicant countries sail together 'towards new shores'.

On 1 August 1961, Sean Lemass, Irish Prime Minister, announces to the national parliament that his Government has submitted an initial request for Ireland’s accession to the European Communities.

On 23 October 1962, Emilio Colombo, President-in-Office of the Council of Ministers of the European Communities, agrees to the request made by the Irish Government for negotiations on Ireland’s membership of the European Communities to begin post-haste.

On 15 November 1963, the European Commission draws up a report on the stance taken by Ireland during the negotiations for its accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 11 May 1967, the Irish Prime Minister, Jack Lynch, announces to the national parliament, the Dáil, the decision to reiterate the request for Ireland's accession to the European Communities.

On 2 July 1967, the European Commission outlines the political and economic problems posed by Ireland’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 25 July 1967, in the Dáil, Irish MPs debate the conditions for Ireland’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 12 November 1968, the Representation of Ireland to the European Communities submits an aide-mémoire to the European Commission outlining the position of the Irish authorities on the export of cattle and beef to the Six.

On 2 April 1968, in response to applications for membership of the European Economic Community (EEC) from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and Norway, the European Commission delivers its opinion on the practicalities of future enlargement of the EEC.

On 19 December 1969, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for External Relations forwards to Gaetano Martino, Commissioner with special responsibility for external relations, a summary of the outcome of the working meeting held two days earlier in Brussels between agricultural experts from the Commission and Ireland.

Published in April 1970 by the Irish Government, the white paper on the subject of Ireland's accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) analyses the economic, political and social consequences of membership.

On 23 June 1970, Irish MPs examine the Dublin Government’s White Paper on Ireland’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) and debate its potential economic, political and social repercussions.

On 19 January 1972, the European Commission delivers a favourable opinion in response to applications from the Kingdom of Denmark, Ireland, the Kingdom of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for membership of the European Communities.

On 22 January 1972, the Council of the European Communities decides to accept the applications for accession of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community (EEC) and to the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC).

On 22 January 1972, the Council of the European Communities decides that Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom may become members of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and sets out the conditions of its accession.

In an official report published in January 1972 and presented to both Houses of the national parliament, the Irish Government highlights the importance of Ireland's accession to the European Communities.

On 21 March 1972, the Irish Prime Minister, Jack Lynch, announces to the Dáil that a national referendum is soon to be held on the issue of Ireland’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 21 March 1972, Liam Cosgrave, Leader of the Irish Liberal Party, Fine Gael, reiterates the implications of the forthcoming national referendum on Ireland’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 18 January 1962, three days before the opening, in Brussels, of negotiations on Ireland’s accession to the European Communities, Sean Lemass, Irish Prime Minister, reiterates to Members of the Governments of the Six his country’s determination to become a part of the European Community.

In 1972, in the run-up to the referendum on Ireland’s accession to the European Communities, to be held on 10 May, the Irish Farmers’ Association sends out the results of a detailed study to its members analysing the potential advantages and disadvantages of the country’s participation in the Community system.

In 1972, in the run-up to Ireland’s accession to the European Communities, the Irish political party Fianna Fail publishes a guide which answers the key questions on the country’s participation in the European Community.

Alcee L. Hastings (United States), elected President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in July 2004 during the 13th Annual Session in Edinburgh.

Following the deliberations of the Standing Committee of the Treaty of Brussels, its Secretary-General draws up a draft invitation to attend the preparatory conference of the Council of Europe, to be issued to the governments of Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Norway and Sweden.

Following the Paris Summit of 19–21 October 1972 and the entry into force of the Treaty of Accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom to the European Communities on 1 January 1973, François-Xavier Ortoli, President of the Commission, gives an address at the first session of the Council of the enlarged Community, held on 15 January 1973 in Brussels. In his speech, Ortoli emphasises the tremendous sense of hope inspired by the words ‘European Union’ for the future of European nations.

In October 1969, the Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER) of the Member States of the European Economic Community (EEC) gives its views on the opinion delivered by the European Commission on the applications for accession to the European Common Market submitted by Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom.

On 27 July 1967, at a meeting held in Brussels with Jean Rey, President of the European Commission, in connection with the negotiations for Irish accession to the European Communities, John Lynch, Irish Prime Minister, emphasises his Government’s European credentials.

On 13 December 1978, Irish MPs, meeting in the Dáil, debate the issue of Ireland's participation in the European Monetary System (EMS).

Following the Paris Summit of 19–21 October 1972 and the entry into force of the Treaty of Accession of Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom to the European Communities on 1 January 1973, François-Xavier Ortoli, President of the Commission, gives an address at the first session of the Council of the enlarged Community, held on 15 January 1973 in Brussels. In his speech, Ortoli emphasises the tremendous sense of hope inspired by the words ‘European Union’ for the future of European nations.

On 12 June 1975, Stephanos Stathatos, Greek Ambassador to Brussels, presents to Brendan Dillon, Irish Permanent Representative to the European Communities, an official application for Greece's accession to the European Communities, of which Ireland currently holds the rotating presidency.

At the press conference which concludes the Fontainebleau Summit held from 25 to 26 June 1984, François Mitterrand, President of the French Republic, holds aloft the first European passport. From 1985, the European passport is to be introduced in Italy, France, Denmark, Ireland and Luxembourg.

On 24 October 1984, in Dublin, Garrett FitzGerald (right), Irish Prime Minister and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities, Mário Soares (left), Portuguese Prime Minister, and Lorenzo Natali, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Enlargement, sign a Joint Declaration in which they express their wish for Portugal's accession to the European Communities to take effect on 1 January 1986.