Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Nov 1993

Vol. 436 No. 1

Written Answers. - Trans-Atlantic Agreement.

Pat Cox

Question:

128 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for the Marine , in view of the heavy dependence of Ireland on export trade and the substantial volume of trade between Ireland and the United States, the Government's official policy in respect of the cartel known as the Trans-Atlantic Agreement; the views of the Government on whether this cartel should be subject to the ordinary rules of competition as per the Treaty of Rome; if the Government intends to object at the next Council of Transport Ministers to the content of Council working document MAR/93/35 which seeks to exempt the TAA cartel from the ordinary rules of competition.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

The shipping consortium known as the Trans-Atlantic Agreement has been under investigation by the EC Commission with a view to determining whether it is in breach of the Community rules relating to competition. Ireland together with other member states has been assisting this process as far as possible through the provision of relevant information to the Commission.

Discussions on a draft Council Resolution proposed by the Presidency (MAR/93/35) are ongoing at both national and EC level. The draft resolution among other things, invites the Commission to adopt a regulation exempting consortia agreements from EC competition rules.

The Council of Ministers is working to ensure that any decision taken in relation to consortia at the forthcoming Council of Transport Ministers on 29 November is based on consultation and fully reflects an equitable balance between the interested sectors viz. shipowners, shippers, importers, exporters and hauliers.