Vol. 421 No. 5
105 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the way in which he intends to encourage an increase in Irish Merchant Marine; if he will give details of (a) the measures he will introduce in 1992 and (b) the measures which are proposed for 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, at the end of last year, the Irish registered merchant fleet exceeded 200,000 deadweight tons for the first time since 1984. This increase of 43 per cent reflects, inter alia, the impact of the measures introduced by the Government in 1987 to assist fleet development and ensure certain minimum capacity requirements.
The compelling need is for shipping services which provide fast and reliable access to the main European markets which currently account for more than 70 per cent of our trade. The aim of shipping policy is to ensure that, as far as possible, Ireland's trade routes and needs are adequately catered for on an efficient, economic and competitive basis.
In pursuance of this objective, the Government have proposed, in a detailed submission to the EC Commission, that Community funding be provided to assist investment in unitised capacity in both the Lift On/Lift Off and Roll On/Roll Off modes. Although the initial Commission response was not positive, discussions with the Commission have resulted in a revised submission which is currently under consideration by Brussels.
As the Deputy will appreciate, my plans for this year and next are very much bound up with the decisions which are reached in consultation with the Commission. It would therefore be both misleading and premature to go into the details of proposals which are contingent on progress in this regard. I can assure the Deputy however that no effort will be spared in promoting the interests of our merchant fleet.
