I was expecting to be asked to share my time with another Member and if he arrives perhaps the Chair will agree to that.
In 1987 the Irish people ratified the Single European Act. This set the scene for the introduction of the Single Market on 1 January 1993. Customs clearance agents will be casualties of this great structural change. These agents are now and have been an integral part of the business of clearing goods through Customs. They are private firms who have used their initiative to provide an important service to exporters and importers. From 1 January 1993 this service will no longer be required. Customs clearance agents will be put out of business on that date. They do not wish to be put out of business but it will disappear and they will be required no longer. They will have no means of earning a living after 1 January and their livelihoods will be destroyed. The business in which they have been engaged will not offer them any sustenance at that stage.
I understand that the INTERREG II programme makes certain provisions for assisting people whose lives are disrupted by the introduction of the Single Market. There are provisions for giving assistance to Customs officers who work for the State. I imagine there are provisions also for assisting employees of private operators, the Customs clearance agents. I understand the Government propose a form of retraining which is of no use whatever to the Customs clearance agents. They do not wish to be retrained, they have had their training in business. They are business people and have been acting as such for many years. Most of them want the opportunity to get into business again.
It is incumbent on the Government, who know this has been coming for the past five years, to take action and assist these people in one form or another by compensating them for the loss of business. The loss of business has been brought about by the concerted action of the 12 member states. I am sure that if the Irish Government wish to do so, the INTERREG II programme could be used to assist these private operators.
I tabled questions on the matter in the Dáil last April seeking information on the INTERREG II programme and asked what the Government proposed to do for these people and their employees. The responses I got at the time were such that I decided the Government had not paid any attention to this problem up to that time. It is clear to me now that they have not thought about it.
There is not a large number of these people along the Border corridor but the number is significant. Even if only one person was forced out of his job, by outside agencies, that person should be compensated. I am asking the Government, at this late stage, to examine the position carefully and when they have all the facts before them to decide on a package which will adequately compensate these people for the loss of business.
I hope the Minister will take cognisance of this fact and will immediately ensure that the Government put a programme in place because 1 January is very close. Obviously these people have to make plans for the future. We cannot dump them on the road one morning and hope they will survive; we must ensure that they know in advance what will happen to them and what assistance they can get which will enable them to reorganise their businesses. I look forward to the Minister's response and I hope he will have something sensible to say on this very serious problem.