Vol. 434 No. 2
195 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the concern in some industries regarding Ireland's continued membership of European Space Agency; if his attention has further been drawn to the potentially disastrous effect it could have on employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter giving a commitment on our continued membership.
I would reaffirm what I said in my reply to similar questions on 31 March and 18 May last, that the Government has not taken any decision to withdraw from the European Space Agency. Such a move would require a formal renunciation of the ESA Convention by the Government and twelve months notice would have to be given. No such notice has been served. What has been done is to defer payment of our 1993 ESA contribution for the moment in view of budgetary constraints. The matter will be re examined in the context of the 1994 Estimates.
