Will the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs respond to the report that the British Ministry of Defence have dumped in the Irish Sea munitions which are being washed ashore along the east coast of Ireland? The Irish Sea has become in effect an international laundry basket for all sorts of toxic nuclear waste. Nuclear waste is pumped into the waters, and transported across the Irish Sea at great risk to the Irish public, and there is also a movement of nuclear submarines threatening the lives of Irish fishermen. If the reports of this new development are true I cannot understand why the British authorities show such a blatant and offensive disregard for the natural environment and such blatant disrespect for the sea between the two countries. It is time to cry "halt." This matter should be raised at the highest level with the British Government and we should receive answers. There is too much secrecy surrounding the dumping of nuclear waste and the presence of nuclear submarines in the Irish Sea. These reports should be taken up with the British Government and the waters cleared once and for all.
Foreign Affairs Matters.
The matter to which the Deputy refers relates to media reports of today that munitions dumped by the British Ministry of Defence in the Irish Sea are being swept by tidal currents toward the County Antrim coast. The report suggests that the munitions originated in Beaufort Dyke, an area reportedly used by the British Ministry of Defence as a repository for World War II munitions.
We have noted the reported statement by the British Ministry of Defence that care is taken to dump only material that is safe and that will not do any environmental harm. The Government will seek clarification of the report from the British authorities with the aim of ensuring that any dumping that may be taking place in the Irish Sea will be thoroughly monitored so as to give satisfactory reassurances in regard to its environmental safety, which includes of course reassurance that it poses no threat to life or limb.
The democratic world today welcomes the news that agreement has been reached on a transitional government for Ethiopia, negotiated at peace talks in London, following the departure of President Menghistu last week. We hope and pray that 30 years of civil war and devastation will now come to an end and that the international community will genuinely help this proud country to restore itself. I wish the interim leader Mr. Meless Zenawi, head of the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front good fortune and success in bringing peace and stability and, above all, democracy to his country.
Ethiopia has been ravaged by drought and famine. Millions have died over the last ten years or more, from starvation. We know that at least another 5.6 million people are threatened unless food and other assistance gets to them. We will see a disaster bigger than the 1984-85 famine if assistance is not forthcoming. I welcome the EC announcement this week that more food aid will be made available in the Horn of Africa particularly to Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia where 15 million are at risk. There should not be any more excuses about difficulties of transport red tape and bureaucracy. With the change of regime in Ethiopia and the excellent Irish and other international agencies working there, the developed world should be able to give up their excuses, stop hiding behind them and make an effort to bring aid to all the people who had been cut off because of the fighting, so as to keep them alive and then to provide sustainable long term development to these ancient and proud peoples. Agencies working there already include Concern, Trócaire, and Self Help from Carlow who have been working quietly to grow Irish potatoes and to develop afforestation projects.
We have been following with great interest the developments in Ethiopia which culminated in the capture of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa by the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, and in London where a framework agreement has been concluded between many of the parties who were involved in the civil war.
We look forward to the proposed follow up conference to be held in June as outlined in the agreement reached yesterday. This is to discuss the formation of a broadly based provisional government. These are uncertain times but we hope it will be possible to obtain a just and lasting peace settlement in Ethiopia despite the difficulties that undoubtedly lie ahead and which will have to be overcome.
In relation to emergency relief for those threatened by famine, I assure the House that Irish and EC responsibilities are, of course, unchanged by these political upheavels. Emergency relief is provided without reference to the political situation and this will continue to be the case.
The Government have contributed consistently and generously towards the emergency famine relief operation in Ethiopia. In addition to their contribution through the EC budget, since January 1990 allocations from the disaster relief fund totalling £860,000 have been provided to Irish and international relief agencies. This includes £325,000 which was the Irish bilateral share of the new Community special aid package for Africa. This is being channelled through Concern and Trócaire for their feeding operations in southern and western parts of the country where there are serious levels of malnutrition.
According to the latest information available to me, the new developments in Ethiopia have partially interrupted the relief operation. However, the south-north operation from the Port of Assab, disrupted for a number of days, has now resumed. It appears that the route from the Port of Massawa across to Eritrea has actually improved due to the changes security situation and the reduction of military intervention.
Discussions are already taking place between donors involved in the relief operation and the new administration in Ethiopia which has declared its intention to support the international relief effort.
In relation to a suggestion made by Deputy Owen in the House, I raised the question of a visit, at a fairly senior level, to the Horn of Africa. This was at the development council last Monday and I am glad to be able to inform the House that the delegation, which will consist of Ministers of Luxembourg, Italy and the Netherlands, will visit the area in the not too distant future.
Well done.
Of course, they must be given a chance to make all the necessary arrangements.
Acting Chairman
Deputy Owen has been given permission to raise a second issue.
I wish to give about 30 seconds to Deputy Deenihan.
Acting Chairman
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I appeal to the Minister for Foreign Affairs to clear the way so that the American, about whom I wish to raise this issue, will get the Irish passport to which he has been entitled since 1987. The man first wrote to me from New York on 3 May 1990 after reading in the American newspapers that I had raised the issue of many New Yorkers who had applied in 1986 for Irish citizenship. He read that I had got nowhere in the Dáil with the Minister for Justice.
He told me that he had made a proper and valid application under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1986, and had hoped he would proudly hold his new passport in 1987. Since then he — and a further 2,000 people from New York entitled to Irish passports — have been ignored by the Government. All that is required is a small amendment to the Act which did not allow those who had made their application, but had not been registered before 31 December 1986, to be registered.
I now ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to intervene with the Minister for Justice and to indicate to him the embarrassment this is causing to our many friends in America. Already, the Congressional Friends of Ireland group have raised this issue and a Congressman, Ray McGrath, has reminded people of the many times Americans have helped Irish citizens there. The Minister should take decisive action and allow this man, with honour and pride, to carry his Irish passport.
I support Deputy Owen and I appeal to the Minister and the Government to bring forward any legislation which is necessary to facilitate these people.
Our country has been facilitated in the past by the United States State Department and we have always received wholehearted support from the Irish ethnic community in America for several causes. The 2,000 people who have qualified find the wait inexplicable and want an immediate response. I ask the Government to do so as soon as possible.
Deputy Owen's question concerned just one individual so I cannot go into details except to say that Irish passports are granted only to Irish citizens. The person referred to by Deputy Owen is not an Irish citizen and is not yet, therefore, entitled to an Irish passport.
However, I am aware of the problem to which Deputy Owen alluded. As the Deputy knows, it involves the amendment of the law on citizenship which is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice. As she rightly said, that comes from the 1986 Act which made conditions stricter.
I have raised this matter with the Minister for Justice and I understand he is actively considering it. I will also convey the remarks of Deputy Owen and Deputy Deenihan to him.
Acting Chairman
The Deputy has been given permission to raise a third matter.
During the early part of 1990, there were numerous press conferences, launches and publicity ventures announcing the various allocations by different Ministers from the £2.7 billion Structural Funds. Day after day in the newspapers for weeks one Minister or another was telling us how much this country would gain from the funds. Where are all these moneys now? Where are the promised projects and the jobs which were to have been created in spending this money?
The national monitoring committee and the eight regional sub-committees seem to have melted into the background, or perhaps they disappeared into one of the potholes. I do not think they wanted to disappear or melt into the background but the heavy hand of the Department has clamped down on them and they cannot work. For example, the Dublin regional sub-committee, made up of public and private members, chambers of commerce and all the social partners, were promised a computer print-out of the 1990 project by April of this year but they have not received it. A programme has not been drawn up to spend any money in 1991. We must get our act together in relation to the spending of these Structural Funds before the EC tells us that we are breaking the rules and take the money back. Get rid of the PR job and implement the programme on which we should be spending this money.
No operational plan for Dublin has been approved by the EC. The Community Support Framework for Ireland for 1989-93 was adopted in October 1989 and represents the European Commission's response to the Government's development priorities set out in the national development plan submitted in March of the same year.
The Community Support Framework is being implemented through 12 operational programmes, a small number of previously approved programmes and a number of parallel measures under the EAGGF Guidance Fund which has Community wide application. These programmes are sectoral in nature and are national. The Community Support Framework for Ireland does, however, provide for seven sub-regional review committees which are to be regularly informed and consulted concerning implementation of the operational programmes in the various sub-regions. They are to meet not less than twice a year to receive and consider progress reports and financial statements on current and planned implementation of measures.
In November and early December last year the seven sub-regional review committees were provided with the first summary statement of structural expenditure in each of the sub-regions. This covered the outturn for 1989, the forecast for 1990 and a combined forecast for 1991-93, all broken down by operational programmes. Copies of the breakdown were placed in the Dáil Library. Similar tables showing the outturn for 1989, the outturn again forecast for 1990 and individual forecasts for the year 1991-93 are at an advanced state of preparation in the Department of Finance and will be circulated to all the sub-regional review committees in a matter of days. Copies will also be placed in the Dáil Library. It was never intended that the monitoring system for the Community Support Framework at sub-regional level would provide data below sub-regional level. A breakdown of expenditure between the local authority areas in the Dublin subregion is, therefore, not available. The sub-regions chosen for the preparation of the National Development Plan were accepted as the appropriate regions for the Community Support Framework and information in a considerable volume of detail is being provided at this level.
The sub-regional review committees were convened in July 1990 and all have met on a number of occasions since then.
The committees have already been provided with: (i) detailed reports on the implementation of each of the operational programmes in their sub-regions; and (ii) an overall summary statement of structural spending in each of the sub-regions, circulated in November-early December 1990.
They have also had detailed presentations made to them by the lead Government Departments and principal implementing agencies concerned with the operational programmes.
This year, progress reports have been circulated on the following programmes: industry and services, human resources, sanitary services and tourism.
Progress reports on the remaining operational programmes will be circulated shortly. These reports, financial statements and presentations show clearly the rate of implementation of each operational programme in each of the sub-regions concerned.
I trust this information will be of some assistance to the Deputy who does not appear to have any knowledge of the progress which has been made to date.
The Minister of State should speak to the regional committee in Dublin. They do not think that anything has happened.
During the years the practice of "lamping"— the use of high powered lights at night to seek out foxes — had grown up in rural Ireland. What happens is that someone holds a light out of the side window of cars, vans or pickup trucks as the vehicle moves slowly along country roads and laneways. The fox is dazzled by the light and shot. While I support the culling of vermin and foxes which wreak havoc during the lambing season, it is not safe to use shot guns, .22 rifles or high velocity weapons at night. Increasingly cattle, sheep and other animals have been shot. In some instances guns have been discharged from positions in close proximity to houses in the dead of the night. It is a miracle that no one has been shot to date but it may be only a matter of time before someone is. There is an urgent need therefore to introduce guidelines and rules and regulations on the use of these guns. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply.
I have to confess that I have been placed at a slight disadvantage in that I do not have the specific details which would allow me to give a full reply to the points made by the Deputy. As the Deputy is aware, foxes are not an endangered species and the actions referred to are not illegal. I will have the matter fully investigated and I hope to be in a position very shortly to come back to the Deputy with more information.
Humans are an endangered species.
The Dáil adjourned at 11.25 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 30 May 1991.