asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the plans he has for 1989 for creating further awareness of 1992 and its implications for Irish industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Implications of Single Market for Industry.
21.
An intensive awareness and information campaign on the implications of "1992" for the business sector was undertaken by the Minister for Industry and Commerce with his ministerial colleagues in the Department of Industry and Commerce between September and the end of November last. This was part of the Government campaign launched by the Taoiseach on 4 July last.
At present the European Bureau is in the process of commissioning a survey on the impact on the business sector of the first phase of the information and awareness campaign undertaken last year. This will help identify the areas in industry where a good understanding of the implications of "1992" has been achieved and of the preparations which should be made for it.
It will provide a strong base for planning the next phase of the Government information and awareness campaign and in the case of industry identify those sectors and types of firms which are either well advanced or poorly prepared in planning for "1992".
During 1989 I and my ministerial colleagues in the Department of Industry and Commerce will be further developing the awareness and information campaign launched during 1988. We will do this through participation in, and issuing papers at, a number of conferences for the business sector in which the implications of "1992" for industry will be thoroughly discussed; continuing to disseminate a comprehensive information pack on the implications of "1992" for the business sector; supporting the undertaking of analyses of the implications of "1992" for specific industrial sectors through the European Bureau, NESC and the industrial promotion agencies and ensuring the widest possible dissemination of the findings of these analyses; working with, and helping to co-ordinate the activities of, the State industrial promotion agencies each of which through their direct contact with industrial firms will be further developing their information and advisory services on "1992" and linking closely with the representative bodies such as CII, FUE, the Chambers of Commerce and ICTU who will also be developing their information and awareness campaigns on "1992" during 1989 so that duplication is avoided and the entire information campaign is made more effective.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. What sectors have already been identified as under-prepared for 1992? Would the Minister not agree that there is need for more working groups rather than just the issuing of papers from the Government explaining 1992? Would he agree that the sectors he has identified need to be brought together in meetings with his own office for face to face discussions rather than just having a faceless issuing of information with regard to 1992?
That will be brought about. There is a need for one to one discussion as the Deputy suggests, and I will follow that up. CII have been very helpful on this as well. We want co-ordination between CII, Government agencies, Government itself and the individual sectors, and we will be going through it sector by sector. It is not a question of identifying just one at this stage. We will be going through it sector by sector.
Having heard from the Minister about the output of his Department in this area, have his Department learned anything from their meetings with industry in regard to the 1992 campaign?
The fact that there was such an interest in the business community was heartening. About 3,500 people attended the various meetings that took place around the country. Broadly, the same concerns were expressed at most of the meetings, such as transportation costs in relation to 1992 and the fact that we would be the only island left in Europe as the channel tunnel would be in operation at that stage. That type of problem surfaced in the discussions. It is now time to go back on a sector by sector basis and that is what will be done.