Vol. 484 No. 4
65 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will give details of the aim of shipping policy: if he has satisfied himself that all trade routes are adequately catered; the likely development on these routes over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22383/97]
The Government's Action Programme for the Millennium accords full recognition to the strategic importance of our shipping industry and includes, as a key priority, the development of a comprehensive policy for the shipping industry.
The key sectoral policy goals for the shipping component of the maritime transport sector are: to support and facilitate, in the interests of national economic and commercial development the availability of efficient and competitive sea transport and market structure, to ensure maritime transport networks develop in a co-ordinated and integrated way as part of the total transport chain and to support and facilitate opportunities for Irish enterprise and the Irish labour force in the maritime transport sector and to pursue a level playing field in the sector within the EU.
Key sectoral policy objectives in the medium term are: to increase the present market share of Irish based companies and employees in shipping services and to support continuing improvement in the competitiveness of shipping costs.
