I refer to the points raised by Deputy O'Malley in regard to ratification of the 1975 convention. His observations about the shortness of time are reasonable. They apply to me too for the reason that we originally believed that the interim document we are now ratifying did not necessarily, because of its legal standing, come before the House at all. It was only very recently that the expert opinion was that we should bring it here. While I agree with what he said about shortness of time, it is fair that I should indicate to the House that I have tried on my side to be helpful in matters of briefing for Deputy O'Malley, because it is important that we have a reasonable debate on this. I am also pleased that it is not too long a debate. It is not that I do not wish to have the suggestions discussed; it is very important to do it. By next year we will have ratification of the 1975 convention and I am happy to give the undertaking so that there will be more adequate time for preparation and for a major debate then, and I will be happy to co-operate with the Opposition in that regard.
I would, perhaps, since it has been referred to, say a little about the industrial spin-off. It is very heartening that there are areas industrially in which we are becoming very good. One of those is the whole sophisticated end of electronics. We will be able to participate in programmes of the European Space Agency in everything from system studies at one end, in other words the skill and science of managing large and complex projects through computers, and we are becoming a very significant force in computers through both computer hardware and computer software electro-mechanical devices. Then there is the adjoining area where we also have expertise now in electronic components. For example, one of the most advanced factories for the manufacture of large integrated circuits in the world is now in Ireland. Then we go on into telecommunications. Then there is the materials sector, surface coatings, adhesives, and then little bits of delicate, light engineering, mechanical fasteners and things like that, and in particular fabrication of plastics.
In all these areas we possess existing skills and in them we have participation so that we can benefit from what is indeed, as Deputy O'Malley said, a small sum of money, a small entrance fee. There are, of course, the obligatory programmes and the optional ones. You have to buy your way into the optional programmes. We will pick those precisely in the light of the best possible return and we will be working hard to see that the contracts that our industry get are in the area of high technology and sophistication and that we are not simply used as a place for doing routine fabrication of a simple kind. In other words, we will be very careful that this retour juste will not be simply in volume of contracts but also in sophistication and in areas where we want expertise and where we want to grow.
On the matter of rationalisation of expenditure, there is good rationalisation between NASA and the European Space Agency. They look on their programmes as being complementary and it not just a matter of understanding. This is effected through a series of agreements. It is right, as Deputy O'Malley has observed, that duplication for its own sake is dottiness which not even the richest countries, not even the United States taken as a whole or the Community taken as a whole, can afford. It is important not to duplicate, and I understand they are quite sensible and good about that.
Perhaps this is the moment to touch upon the observation of Deputy Esmonde, which of course is a danger for a little country like this. It is precisely something like the European Space Agency that can enable us to get into big and extensive science in a way that for a separate small, poor nation would be entirely impossible. It means that our scientists do not have to exclude extremely exciting areas like big physics or space from their proper area of expertise. That is encouraging for them, and without mechanisms of this kind it would be completely impossible. I believe that the rationalisation is quite good between the different areas, and it is important that it should remain so, that money is not wasted and that the legislators should remind the scientists of this.
In regard to the satellites existing, those of NASA, and Comisat I think is another in that context, the matter of exchanging broadcasts between the United States and Ireland from other parts of Europe, the extension of what broadcasting and specifically television can do is desirable. It is part of a mechanism for getting to know one another better, regulated by the European Broadcasting Union in part by international broadcasting agreements. These are the proper areas of responsibility of another Minister and there is nothing I want to say about that. This satellite is the enabler but the decision as to what to use and what way it is used is for international agreement and the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs is responsible there.
It is well that I have an opportunity to record that we are convinced that the European Space Agency are operating with great fairness and they are carrying out completely openheartedly the expectations which arose when we thought about joining. In regard to retour juste, in regard to the welcome for our industrialists and scientists going in, regard to the ready access to their tremendously developed information sources, they are being generous, open and fair. I think for this small sum of money we will get to guarantee our position in an extremely exciting area. I think we will be repaid many times over and I am grateful for the welcome that the House has given to the ratification of this agreement.
