Liam Aylward
Question:7 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on the trade aspects of the EU TACIS Programme. [14058/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EU TACIS Programme.
David Andrews
Question:150 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on the trade aspect of the EU TACIS Programme. [14157/95]
Tony Killeen
Question:164 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade his views on the trade aspects of the EU TACIS Programme. [14175/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 150 and 164 together. The TACIS Programme is a technical assistance programme operated and funded by the European Union to help the countries of the former Soviet Union to achieve democracy and to adapt their economies to a market economy structure. A separate programme has been devised for each country to respond to its own special needs and state of development.
Irish firms are playing an important role in the delivery of advice and guidance under the TACIS programme. European Commission statistics suggest that Irish firms have been granted contracts to a value of 45.7 million ECU (about £36 million) since the programme began to operate in 1991, and the Irish Trade Board continues to work closely with these companies to build on this success.
Is the Minister satisfied that the ITB has sufficient input into ensuring that Irish companies with an interest in developing markets have the necessary information available to them? In view of the very substantial number of flights by Aeroflot into Shannon and Dublin, has the country taken the programme as seriously as it ought?
Yes, Irish interests have been very successful in obtaining contracts and they are aware of how the programme operates. We find it successful, and the companies involved have proven their case to date and will continue to do so.
Is the Minister aware of any difficulties encountered by Irish exporters or, alternatively, by people developing industries or services in former USSR countries, particularly in ensuring that the flow of information and the necessity to make travel arrangements that arise in these instances are facilitated?
I am not aware of any specific instances. Like other public representatives I have had a number of representations about this over the years. The Department tries to deal with problems as they arise. I am not aware of any persistent or consistent obstructions to business going either way. If Deputy Killeen is aware of anything that should be attended to, I will be happy to deal with it.
Will the Minister consider putting facilities in place, for instance, in Belarus or the Ukraine to enable people to deal with paperwork which they claim can be quite difficult, and thus ensure that opportunities are not missed?
I will have the question of Belarus examined.