Vol. 435 No. 1
80 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Finance if, in the event of this country being successful in obtaining the siting of a European Agency such as the Monetary Institute, he will have arrangements made to locate the agency in a Border location such as Dundalk, County Louth which has suffered job losses as a result of the implementation of the Single European Act, mainly in the Custom and Excise area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ireland has already announced its support for Frankfurt as the location for the European Monetary Institute. However, strenuous efforts are being made by the Government to have the proposed European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products sited in Ireland. It has been decided that with its long tradition in medicine and in research and given that it has all the necessary access, communications, and support facilities, Dublin would be the most appropriate location for the Agency.
In regard to the effect of the Single Market on the number of Customs and Excise staff employed in the Dundalk area, I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that arising out of a Government decision to give them responsibility for the collection in respect of Ireland of Community INTRASTAT statistics and the VAT Information Exchange System, it was possible to retain approximately 90 Customs and Excise staff in the Dundalk region who otherwise would have been surplus to requirements.
