asked the Minister for Finance if and when an approach was made by the USSR to have Verolme Dockyard, County Cork re-opened as a ship repair facility; the stage the discussions are at; when it is expected that the yard will be in operation; and the number of people who will be employed there.
Written Answers. - Verolme (Cork) Dockyard.
63.
A Murmansk based company named Sevryba which is involved in fishing and fish-processing and is owned by the Soviet Ministry of Fisheries, expressed an interest in Verolme through an intermediary in February this year. This followed earlier preliminary contacts. The matter was raised in general terms during the Taoiseach's stopovers in Moscow on 22 and 26 April, and I hope to meet a delegation from the company and the Soviet Ministry of Fisheries later this month. The discussions, while very encouraging so far, are at a very early stage, and it would be premature to speculate on their outcome.