I propose to answer Questions Nos. 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 and 62 together. As regards Customs and Excise officials I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a previous question on this issue — Dáil Report Vol. 416 No. 6, 3 March 1992, Cols. 1062-1069 refers. The ultimate aim is to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, a career is provided for all Customs and Excise staff in, or close to, their present locations.
On the questions of assisting customs clearance agents to adopt to the Single Market, a Commission Communications was presented to the Internal Market Council on 14 May and to the ECOFIN Council on 19 May by the Commissioner Scrivener. The purpose of this communications was to present to Council guidelines for dealing with the situation and details of the measures that the Commission proposes talking to complement those taken by the customs clearance sector itself and by Member States. The Commission takes the line that it is primarily up to the sector itself and the Member States to take the necessary social and economics measures. However, in the light of a recent study carried out in all twelve Member States, the Commission has decided that there is a need for Community back-up measures.