Vol. 406 No. 5
15 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence if his Department have yet received clearance from the EC Commission for funds for the purchase of aircraft for maritime surveillance; the way in which the money will be spent; when it is expected that the aircraft will be acquired; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Council of the European Communities adopted a proposal in November 1989 for a financial contribution towards expenditure incurred by member states for the purpose of surveillance of fishery resources. The EC contribution will relate to eligible expenditure incurred by member states from 1 January 1991 to 31 December 1995. Negotiations are currently being conducted by my Department for the acquisition of aircraft for maritime surveillance within the context of the EC decision. A contract has not been placed to date for the acquisition of the aircraft.
May I ask the Minister to answer the question tabled by Deputy Gilmore? Have his Department received clearance from the EC Commission for funding on the terms they are prepared to offer?
Yes, they have.
Can the Minister indicate when that clearance was obtained?
A formal programme in relation to a five year plan was lodged with the European Community in June 1990. The European Community has approved the eligibility of the expenditure being incurred by Ireland in year one of the plan.
When?
Expenditure will amount to £8.8 million in 1991.
I asked the Minister when the EC told us they would fund our programme for the year? I should like to get that information from the Minister. What is the delay in taking out a contract? It would appear from the Minister's reply that we still have not issued any contract for tendering or otherwise and that it will take us some more months to do this. I should like to remind the Minister that we are now moving into the second quarter of 1991 for which the EC said we can spend money. Does he not appreciate the importance of these facilities for safety at sea and the surveillance of fishery vessels from other countries?
The Deputy has made his point.
I should like to inform Deputy McCartan that the Community package was approved in November 1989 and we lodged our application in June 1990.
I hope the Chair can appreciate my frustration. The Minister has told us that already. He has also told us that the EC has approved our submission for funding in 1991. I asked him when they gave us that approval and how long more we must wait before the contract is put to tender to purchase the two aircraft so that we can get on with this important job.
As I told the Deputy, it was approved in 1989.
That is when the EC Commission invited applications for the programme.
These interruptions should cease.
It was also approved at that time and we were eligible for that programme. Tenders were invited on 31 May.
The Minister is only repeating what he has said already.
If Deputies are dissatisfied with Ministers replies they have a remedy.
What is it, a Cheann Comhairle?
There are many ways of raising this matter at a later stage, and I do not have to tell the Deputy that.
The Minister clearly does not know his brief.
Of course, I do.
Question 16, please.
I will explain the position to the Deputy in simpler terms later.
The Minister should have read more of the document in front of him than just the first two pages.
