Vol. 417 No. 5
2 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Taoiseach if, in regard to comments made during his speech to the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis, he will outline the terms of reference for the proposed study on the prospects and possibilities of North-South economic co-operation.
During my address to my party's Ard-Fheis, I said that the European Community offers a context in which we can build on the assets of this island, and its people, while recognising differences and diversity. In this context, I also said that I would publish shortly a study on the prospects for North-South economic co-operation against the background of the Single Market, as a stimulus to intensified contacts and discussions. A substantial study of these issues has been completed and it is my intention that this study, which is undergoing some updating, would form the basis of the publication to which I referred.
Who has carried out the study referred to, what terms of reference were available to those who carried out the study, and does the Taoiseach intend to publish the study in the near future?
The study was carried out in 1990, and I think that the Deputy would recall tabling questions about it in earlier years. The study is a 200-page study of the overall implications of the Single Market for a total island economy. It is now being updated and as soon as that is done it will be published.
We are all trying to maximise the opportunities for the development of an island economy. In that regard, the Minister for Industry and Commerce met his opposite number in Northern Ireland, Mr. Needham, at the Anglo-Irish Conference on 6 March in order to process the whole discussion in that regard. The Conference agreed arrangements for officials to undertake further work to encourage cross-Border trade and co-operation.
How can the Taoiseach reconcile his professed interest in North-South co-operation with the fact that the allocation for the North-South co-operation contained in the vote for the Department of Foreign Affairs has been cut from £250,000 in 1990 to just over £100,000 this year?
The question is about a study, which is a completely different matter. If the Deputy wishes to table a separate question then I shall have no problem in answering it.
Could I ask the Taoiseach again, in a different form perhaps, who is updating the study? Is it the Department of the Taoiseach? What terms of reference are being used to update the study and how soon will its results be published?
The following Departments will be involved — the Department of Foreign Affairs co-ordinating the study, the Departments of Finance, Industry and Commerce, Tourism, Transport and Communications, the Environment, Energy in the preparation of this and various other papers in relation to human resources and so on, with all the other Departments having an input.
Yes, but when will it be published?
We expect it will be published early in the month of May.
Assuming it is intended to have some impact on how we conduct our business post-1992, will the Taoiseach say whether it will be published this year? At least can he give us that information?
The Deputy obviously has not been listening to me. I said it would be published early in May.
It took three supplementaries to extract that information.
The Taoiseach said so five minutes ago.
