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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Jun 1992

Vol. 420 No. 6

William Cotter

Question:

61 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the details of the EC support towards early retirement for customs officers in the context of the implementation of the Single Market; if the Government have made an application for any such support; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

William Cotter

Question:

60 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Finance if the Government have made an application on behalf of customs officers and customs agents for EC funding towards retraining; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

William Cotter

Question:

59 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, the Government have for the re-training of customs officers and customs agents in the context of the changed circumstances which will pertain after 1 January 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

William Cotter

Question:

58 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Finance if the Government have made an application for additional funding under the Interreg Initiative for major intergovernmental co-operative measures in the context of the Single Market and as envisaged in the Scrivener Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

William Cotter

Question:

57 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Finance if the Government have applied for funding under the Interreg Initiative for the purpose of converting customs officers for alternative use by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Written Answers. - EC Aid for Restructuring.

William Cotter

Question:

62 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the details of the Government's proposals to assist companies in restructuring in the context of the Single Market; whether an application has been made for EC assistance for this purpose under the Interreg Initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

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.

The Commission suggests that these measures should be channelled through three different instruments: the European Social Fund, the INTERREG Initiative and certainad hoc measures not eligible for Structural Fund Support. However, it is envisaged that ESF and INTERREG support would come from the existing Structural Fund allocations rather than additional funding. The Commission are proposing that ECU 2 million be made available from the 1992 Budget and they will propose the inclusion of ECU 30 million in the 1993 Budget for special measures to assist customs clearance agents falling outside the scope of the Structural Funds. The aim would be to complement members states efforts to help the sector's worst-hit workers and firms. The Commission will before the end of July propose legislation on the ad hoc measures.
While the Commission proposals are welcome, they do not provide for an increase in resources for action funded by the ESF or by INTERREG. Funds under the ESF and the INTERREG Initiative are already heavily committed.
My Department will be consulting with the Departments primarily concerned on follow-up to the Commission's proposals.
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