Vol. 547 No. 4
56 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the progress which has been made with regard to drawing up of Government policy on radio navigational aids; when the promised consultation document will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3496/02]
As I have previously informed the House, there was an unexpected change of policy by Norway and Germany at a meeting last May of the International Steering Committee which manages the Loran-C radio navigation system. At that meeting, those countries formally gave qualified notice of their withdrawal from the system at the expiry of the current agreement in 2004. As a result of this unexpected development, and in the likely absence of Loran-C after the expiry of that agreement, I directed that Ireland proceed to determine its own marine radio-navigation strategy.
In this regard my Department, together with the Commissioners of Irish Lights, are in the process of drawing up a document setting out an assessment of the state of radio-based aids to navigation around Ireland and the options for the future. This document, when completed, will be used as the basis for a consultation process with all stakeholders. I expect this document to be completed by Summer 2002.
