asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the sums the Irish Government have contributed each year to date to the financing of the Lome Convention; the proportion of this country's total anticipated contribution this sum represents; how much of the balance it is anticipated will be called up in (i) 1979, and (ii) 1980; and whether Ireland's total contribution must be called up before the expiry of the Convention.
Written Answers. - Lome Convention.
449.
To date Ireland has contributed the following sums to the 4th European Development Fund established under the Lome Convention: 1976, £686,000 (1,086,000 Eua); 1977, £1,059,000 (1,620,000 Eua); 1978, £526,000 (834,000 Eua—a further 834,000 Eua is due before the end of 1978).
Ireland's contribution is denominated in European Units of Account, Eua, and the Irish pound equivalent varies with the rate of exchange.
Up to the end of 1978, our total contributions will amount to 4,370,000 Eua, which is approximately 23 per cent of Ireland's total anticipated contribution under the convention.
As yet, the Commission of the European Communities have not indicated the level of funds likely to be called up in 1979 and 1980.