asked the Taoiseach the contribution of the Irish Merchant Navy to our invisible exports total in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Written Answers. - Imports and Exports.
272.
The information available relates to the transactions of Irish shipping companies which form part of item 2 (international freight receipts) and of item 3 (other transportation) in the current account of the official Balance of International Payments compilation. Notes on the coverage of these items are given on page 196 of the article in the June 1982 issue of the Irish Statistical Bulletin.
The net credit balance for these companies from the transactions involved was £18 million in 1977, £24 million in 1978, £30 million in 1979, £36 million in 1980 and an estimated £37 million in 1981. 1982 data are not yet available.
273.
asked the Taoiseach the proportion of (a) our exports, (b) our imports and (c) passenger traffic in and out of Ireland by sea which has been carried in Irish flag ships in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
(a); (b) The precise information requested by the Deputy for total imports and exports is not available. The available information for all ports relates to numbers of all vessels arriving (both trading and passenger) and their net registered tonnage. The proportion for Irish registered ships in the years specified was as follows:
|
Year |
No. of arrivals of* trading and passenger vessels |
Net registered* tonnage |
|
% Irish registered |
% Irish registered |
|
|
1977 |
15.2 |
20.2 |
|
1978 |
14.4 |
18.9 |
|
1979 |
14.7 |
19.3 |
|
1980 |
12.2 |
14.3 |
|
1981 |
17.8 |
17.8 |
* Excludes Bantry Bay.
For Dublin port data on the tonnage of goods by flag of vessel are available for recent years. The information relates to gross tonnage of goods carried for the years 1979-81 and is as follows:
|
Dublin port: |
||
|
% (tonnes) on Irish registered vessels |
||
|
Year |
Exports |
Imports |
|
1979 |
19.8 |
10.9 |
|
1980 |
24.8 |
17.7 |
|
1981 |
32.9 |
18.5 |
(c) The proportion of total sea passenger traffic into and out of the country carried by Irish registered vessels was as follows:
|
1977 |
37.2% |
|
1978 |
36.5% |
|
1979 |
37.9% |
|
1980 |
39.0% |
|
1981 |
41.4% |
Data for 1982 are not yet available.