asked the Taoiseach if he considers the present situation in relation to marine affairs desirable whereby responsibility is divided between the National Board for Science and Technology, which is under his Department, and the Departments of Fisheries and Forestry and Defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marine Affairs.
2.
I am satisfied that the current division of responsibilities in relation to marine affairs is adequate.
3.
asked the Taoiseach if he is aware of the OECD report Review of Marine Science and Technology and the report of the National Science Council Ireland Science and the Sea; the progress made in the provision of equipment and trained personnel; and the role he envisages for the Naval Service in these proposals.
The principal developments with regard to the provision of equipment and personnel in relation to the general sectors covered by the reports referred to by the Deputy are as follows:
Oceanography: One senior scientist has been appointed in the Department of Oceanography, UCG.
Environment: Three scientists have been appointed to the Benthic Research Group, UCG.
Botany: One scientist specialising in marine macro-algae has been appointed to the staff of the Department of Botany, UCG. Culture ponds are being provided under a NBST research grant project.
Fisheries: The staff of the Fisheries Research Centre has been strengthened by the appointment of three scientists. A new laboratory has been provided at Abbotstown, Co. Dublin. Two scientists have been added to the Research Development Staff of BIM and extensive additions in facilities and equipment have been made to the Fisheries Training School at Greencastle.
Mariculture: The Science and Technical staff in the Shellfish Research Laboratory at Carna have been significantly strengthened. Ponds, greenhouses and analytical equipment have been provided. A large number of scientific and technical personnel are now employed by Beirtreach Teoranta and a shellfish hatchery has been constructed. An additional scientist has been appointed by the Salmon Research Trust. Three mariculture site survey and monitoring officers have been recruited and are deployed on a regional basis.
Offshore petroleum and ocean engineering: Six to eight technical personnel are employed in the Ocean Services Division of IIRS and equipment has been procured for monitoring the performance of offshore structures. An additional scientist and technician are employed at the Department of Civil Engineering, UCC, and a small wave tank has been constructed to facilitate performance assessment of marine structures.
Shiptime: One minor multi-user oceanographic vessel has been purchased and equipped. The acquisition of an intermediate research vessel is in hands.
Naval Service: With regard to the Naval Service, in recent years all its available resources have been required for the fisheries protection task. The work of the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference may now be drawing to a close with the possible result that we may have a large marine Economic Zone to be protected. Against this background, the future role of the Naval Service will have to be considered. It is likely, therefore, that for the immediately foreseeable future, the role of the Naval Service in science and technology work will be limited.
I am glad that one did not call for——
No supplementaries — the situation entirely under control.
Is the Taoiseach sure? I hope you are not sitting on a time bomb.