asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Soviet Union Government submitted certain proposals in respect of job-creating enterprises involving Gaeltarra Éireann, if so, the nature of the proposals, and the details of financial arrangements offered to the relevant Government Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Soviet Union Job-Creating Proposals.
3.
I am informed that the Soviet Embassy in Dublin had some discussions with Údarás na Gaeltachta, formerly Gaeltarra Eireann, regarding possible co-operation in the field of fisheries. These discussions did not produce concrete proposals which could have been submitted for consideration to Roinn na Gaeltachta—the Department concerned. I understand that what was envisaged was the supply of Soviet-built trawlers which would be paid for on the basis of the supply to the Soviet Union of the catch made by the trawlers.
Is it not a fact that last April the Minister told me the reason why these proposals were rejected was, to quote the Minister, "the terms were not considered good enough"? The Minister considered on the last occasion that the deal was not good enough.
A question, please. We will not have statements.
The Deputy is probably misinformed.
By the Minister.
No. The whole matter never reached the stage where concrete discussions took place between Gaeltarra, as the Údarás was, and the Soviet Embassy. This matter was at a fairly tentative stage and no concrete proposals were dealt with. The matter never got on to businesslike discussion.
The actual words used by the Minister were "The actual business terms offered by the Soviets were not good enough". Those are the Minister's words.
The Deputy only thought he said that.
The Minister is misinforming the House.
Would the Deputy listen to me. The matter was discussed in a very general, tentative way and they never got down to the nitty gritty of discussing details.
The Minister spoke about actual business terms.
The outline business proposals were not such as would indicate interest on our part.
The Minister is using the words "actual business terms".
The Soviet authorities did not pursue the matter. Possibly the Deputy does not understand.
A final supplementary from Deputy Browne.
This is the important thing and I hope the Minister will give me an answer. I have been given to understand by the senior officials in Gaeltarra that if the Government had not given them a direction not to go to Moscow, not to get involved in much wider discussions as referred to by the Minister——
A supplementary question.
——they would have gone to Moscow and entered into discussions. May they enter into discussions if these negotiations are reopened by the Soviet Union? Is there any political objection to them doing that?
No, there is no political objection to business discussions taking place.
Question No.4.
It is a pack of lies.
A supplementary from Deputy Quinn.
Do I understand the Minister as saying that State officials in a State company can go and talk business in Moscow but our athletes cannot?
That is a seperate question altogether.
The Deputy should grow up.