asked the Minister for the Marine the steps, if any, the Government proposes to take to reestablish a national shipping fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Shipping Fleet.
5.
The Government have introduced a number of measures to develop the national fleet. The Deputy will be aware of the provisions in the Finance Act and the recent introduction of the Shipping Investment Grants Bill in the Dáil. These measures have, for example, encouraged the acquisition of ICL by Irish interests.
Does the Minister regard the Bill that he speaks about as the fulfilment of the promise made to the former Irish Shipping workers that a national shipping fleet would be re-established and, if so, how does he expect that to be done on the basis of grants of £7 million?
The matter the Deputy raises is the subject of a separate question. It is, as the Deputy knows, early days. The rationale behind the establishment of a marine Department was that the whole potential of our marine economy would be developed and exploited to the maximum potential. As part of that overall objective, the legislation which I have mentioned is at present before the House. The Finance Act made changes in this area, in that the level of corporation tax payable to shipping companies has been reduced from 50 per cent to 10 per cent and shipping activities can also qualify for tax relief under the business expansion scheme. I have been involved in discussions with a number of interests who are pursuing projects in this whole area and I have nothing further to add at this stage.
Does the Minister regard the Bill as a fulfilment of the election promise — a photograph was taken at the time with the Irish Shipping workers in the grounds of Leinster House — that a national shipping fleet would be re-established? Could he also indicate when we will see the report of the Committee for Strategic Shipping who, I understand, were established in 1985 and reported?
In relation to the latter part of the Deputy's question, the strategic shipping committee report has been the subject of some comment already. It was discussed in the House on the Bill which is at present before the House. I have no reason for not making that available to the Members of the House other than the fact that the members of the committee acted on that committee on the basis that the report would be confidential. I have no objection to laying that document before the Members.
Will the Minister do that?
I will.
As all the measures the Minister has enunciated in his original and supplementary replies were decided on and announced by the previous Government, has the Minister himself any initiatives in addition to those of the previous Government to set up a national fishing fleet or to reinstate Irish Shipping as his party in Opposition promised so lavishly?
Any area of activity in the marine economy where we find a possibility of creating employment opportunities will be pursued and examined very carefully and fully. Any action that we can take in the commercial development division of the Department of the Marine to encourage or expand shipping or any other activity that has potential for job creation will be followed and pursued vigorously by us.
Will the Minister not accept that here we are seven months after the Department of the Marine were set up, and not one new initiative has been possible by this Government in relation to the development of shipping? Everything the Minister announced here today I announced on 6 January last. All this was decided by the last Government in November 1986.
I do not think we can go into the Deputy's record in relation to the shipping industry——
Will the Minister not accept that what he has now announced in relation to the shipping fleet was announced by me in Government?
The Deputy's policies as announced by him were irrelevant so far as shipping was concerned when I took up office. Absolutely nothing had been done about it.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy De Rossa.
Is there any other initiative? Is there one single line of difference?
He hoped to do something about it.
As the Minister does not seem anxious to respond to the question of whether he regards this Bill as a fulfilment of the election promise, could he tell us if he regards having a national shipping fleet as of strategic importance and that a fundamental necessity is to ensure that we have a shipping fleet which can maintain supplies in and out of this country in an emergency?
We are having repetition. I have heard these supplementaries previously.
Does he believe that the present Bill before the House will guarantee that kind of security?
The Bill before the House is a measure which will help to remedy the declining situation in the shipping area which we have seen for far too long. It is a step in that direction and the very fact of having a Department of the Marine is an acknowledgment of the Government's commitment to developing a maritime economy.
It is window dressing.
It is not window dressing. The Deputy held up the passage of the legislation——
Tell me one single initiative, one line that is different from what I enunciated.
(Interruptions.)
This is leading to argument. I am calling Question No. 6.
I have not had a supplementary.
The Minister should answer the question.