I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 82 to 84, inclusive, and 101 together.
I can confirm that the Minister for Finance, in his capacity as President of the Council of Finance Ministers, signed the decision to raise the ceiling on borrowing by the European Commission under the Euratom Treaty from 2 billion ECU to 4 billion ECU in April 1990. This is a matter of public record and, in his capacity as President of the Council, the Minister had no discretion once the matter had been agreed by the Council.
Ireland has continually pressed for a greater emphasis on the health and safety aspects of the Euratom Treaty in relation to EC funding for the nuclear industry, and for a stronger role for the EC Commission in overseeing the implementation of the highest possible safety standards. Ireland stressed this concern with safety at the Council of Finance Ministers when this proposal was discussed in December 1989.
I should make it clear that the decision related to the nuclear industry across the Community. In addition, the decision to increase the ceiling did not widen the range of activities for which loans could be made. The original decision in 1977 included both industrial production of electricity in nuclear power stations and industrial fuel cycle installations. The Commission proposal for the increase stressed that it would contribute to safety-related investments which had been called for by member states and Community institutions as well as to reprocessing and waste storage. The Irish Government will continue to emphasise the need to give priority to such safety-related investments.
