Tairgim:—
Go ndeonófar suim nach mó ná £856,650 chun íoctha an mhuirir a thiocfaidh chun behith iníoctha i rith na bliana dar chríoch an 31ú lá de Mhárta, 1968, le haghaidh Tuarastail agus Costais Oifig an Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha, agus Seirbhísí áirithe atá faoi riaradh na hOifige sin, lena n-áirítear Deontas-i-gCabhair.
An méid atá san Mheastachán le haghaidh Gnóthaí Eachtracha, is méadú glan é seo de £74,970 ar Mheastachán bunaidh agus Meastachán Forlíontach na bliana seo. Tá méadú de £50,475 ins an tsoláthar le haghaidh tuarastal, pá agus liúntais. Tá méadaithe níos lú i bhFo-Mhírchinn eile. Tá Fó-Mhírcheann nua ann ina bhfuil suim de £6,500 chun soláthar a dhéanamh i gcóir bronntanais do'n LárIonad John F. Kennedy le haghaidh na hEalaíona Aisteorachta i Washington D.C.
An méadú i bhFo-Mhírcheann A le haghaidh tuarastal pá agus liúntais is é is mó is cúis leis ná bunú an Mhisin ar leith dos na Comhphobail Eorpacha i mBrussels. Na méadaithe sa tsoláthartaí le haghaidh Taistil agus FoChostais agus le haghaidh Seirbhísí Oifig an Phoist 'sé is cúis leo seo ná go bhfuil méadú tagaithe ar chostas na seirbhísí go bhfuil baint ag na Fo-Mhírchinn seo leo.
An méadú de £3,550 i bhFo-Mhírcheann D—a bhaineann le saoránaigh Éireannacha go bhfuil gannchúis airgid ortha agus iad thar lear—tugtar cuid mhór de'n tsuim seo isteach arís faoi Leithreasa i gCabhair. Táthar tar éis córas nua cuntasaíochta a thabhairt isteach i gcóir an chaiteachais faoi'n Mhírcheann seo. Gach réamhíoch a tugtar amach cuirtear in aghaidh an Mhírchinn é agus gach suim a gheibhtear ar ais taispeántar mar Leithreasi-gCabhair. Tá an Fo-Mhírceann le haghaidh Leithreasa-i-gCabhair méadaithe d'á réir.
I Vóta na bliana 1966-67 laghduíodh le heisceacht na soláthartaí le haghaidh an Deontais i gcabhair Comhair Cultúra agus le haghaidh Seirbhísí Faisnéise chun coigilt a dhéanamh agus na cúrsaí airgeadais mar a bhíodar an t-am san. Na soláthartaí ins na foMhírchinn céanna i gcóir na bliana 1967-68 níl ionnta ach an méid is ísle atá riachtanach chun clár an Rialtais i gComhar Cultúra agus i Seirbhísí Faisnéise thar lear a chomh líonadh.
Tá méadú de £2,000 i bhfo-Mhírcheann G le haghaidh Féile oifigiúla. Is comhartha é seo den' mhéadú atá ag teacht i méid na gcuairt a thugann daoine mór-le-rádh ó thíortha thar lear ar Éirinn agus de thoradh na n-iarracht atá á ndéanamh chun an tír seo a chur chun cinn mar láthair cruinnithe agus comhdhála idirnáisiúnta. Is maith an rud é seo mar is comhartha é de'n spéis níos mó thar lear ar Éirinn. Ina theannta san, ar ndóigh, is buntáisteach an rud é do'n trádáil cuairtaíochta.
An méid atá san Mheastachán um Chomhar Idirnáisiúnta—£192,050—is laghdú é seo de £12,250 ar Vóta na bliana seo. Níl aon tsoláthar san Mheastachán le haghaidh ranníoca do Chiste Deonach na Náisiún Aontaithe i gcóir na Cipire do'n a solátharaíodh £18,000 i Vóta na bliana seo. Tá méadaithe beaga ins na ranníocaí do Chomhairle na hEorpa, don Eagras um Chomhar agus Forbairt Eacnamaíochta san Eoraip agus do na Náisiúin Aontaithe. Tá Fo-Mhírcheann nua curtha isteach chun go mbeidh ar ár gcumas ranníoca de £350 a dhéanamh do Chiste Chúraim na Náisiún Aontaithe do'n Afraic Theas.
Subhead F for information services which stood at £39,000 for the year 1965-66 was, because of the budgetary situation, reduced to £11,400 for 1966-67. I am glad to say that it has been possible to provide for an increase of £5,300 in the provision for these services for 1967-68. Of the total provision of £16,700 under Subhead F, £5,000 is required in connection with the commissioning of films and purchase of prints of films on Ireland, £4,500 for the publication of the Department's Information Bulletin, £2,000 for invitations to foreign journalists and almost £2,000 for information pamphlets and booklets.
In recent years as Deputies are aware my Department has embarked on a series of film projects in portraying modern Ireland, its social and economic progress and its cultural life. Undoubtedly the most successful of these projects has been the film "Yeats Country", made by Patrick Carey, which has won numerous prizes at International Film Festivals. This film is being actively distributed in the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand and it is proposed to make special language versions for distributions in Europe. The film is available from more than sixty film libraries throughout the United States. Copies have been supplied to all our diplomatic and consular missions. "Rhapsody of a River", a short colour film on the Lee Valley and the city of Cork, commissioned from Gael Linn has an international soundtrack (with music) by Seán Ó Riada. It is hoped to secure widespread circulation for it in many countries.
Two other projects were directed specifically at guaranteed commercial circulation in cinemas abroad. My Department sponsored there short films on social and economic progress in the Pathe Pictorial series for cinema distribution mainly in Britain and a composite film entitled "No More Yesterdays" was then prepared for the use of the Department, Bord Fáilte, Aer Lingus and other State agencies. At the same time, in co-sponsorship with State-sponsored bodies and some private firms, my Department commissioned a short film entitled "Ireland on the Go" which has now been released by the Paramount Corporation in the United States for showing in over 20,000 cinemas, in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
All these films are in colour and copies are being supplied to our diplomatic and consular missions abroad. Some of the films are being shown on colour television in the United States.
Other film projects included a colour film which was entitled "This Most Gallant Gentleman" on the State funeral for Roger Casement, and which also reviewed his life work; two newsreel films on the visits to Ireland of President Kaunda of Zambia and Sir Albert Margai, Prime Minister of Sierra Leone; and actuality film footage entitled "The Irish Rising 1916", for television use abroad, commissioned for Coiste Chuimhneacháin 1916.
Currently in production is a colour film on Irish geography, being made under contract with the McGraw-Hill Company of New York for circulation to United States and Canadian junior high schools.
The Department's Bulletin continues to be a very valuable instrument for keeping persons and institutions in other countries, particularly those with Irish connections or interests, informed of developments here at home and of promoting an accurate picture of contemporary Ireland.
Because of the overall current need for economy, I decided that during the present financial year the Department's Bulletin should issue on an average fortnightly, instead of weekly as heretofore. It is proposed, however, to bring out a number of additional issues dealing with special topics and events.
Following two earlier organised visits of journalists from North America and the Foreign Press Association of London, my Department, in co-operation with other Departments and State-sponsored bodies, arranged a successful visit by representatives of the British Provincial Press in September, 1965. As a result of the visit, many favourable articles appeared in British newspapers. Apart from improving the general picture of Ireland, as seen by members of the British public, the publicity helped to promote the sale of Irish goods and tourism in Britain.
The commemoration of the 1916 Rising created wide press interest abroad and it was decided to set up a special Press Office for the occasion, which was staffed by representatives of my Department, the Department of Defence and the Government Information Bureau. About 250 reporters were accredited to the official Press Office and of these about 230 came from abroad. A large number of the principal foreign newspapers and broadcasting corporations were represented and, generally speaking, the commemoration and the historical background were given very favourable coverage throughout the world in the press, on television, on radio and in special articles and books.
Apart from this occassion, my Department, during the year under review, facilitated more than 100 visiting newspaper men and television and radio reporters, and co-operated in newspaper publicity for special supplements such as those in The Times of London and the Australian financial Review.
During the coming year, we will endeavour to strengthen our information activity in Europe and particularly in the EEC countries. Plans are being made to invite some journalists, either individually or in small groups, from various European countries to visit Ireland for about a week at a time. It is hoped to give special attention to journalists with specific interest in finance, industry, agriculture, international trade, foreign policy and European integration. This programme of specially organised visits should have a beneficial effect on our relations with the countries of Western Europe and help to make modern Ireland better known in the European Economic Community.
Apart from the booklet "Ireland at the United Nations 1965" and a reprinting of "Introducing Ireland" which is a short version of "Facts about Ireland" intended as a free handout abroad mainly for school-children, no other information pamphlets and booklets were planned to be brought out in the current financial year. In the coming financial year versions of the pamphlet "Introducing Ireland" will be produced in French, German and possibly two other languages.
It is the aim of my Department to maintain a supply of information material of all kinds—books, photographs, gramophone records, explanatory memoranda on a great variety of Irish topics and aspects of Irish life. These are distributed to writers, journalists, publishing houses, teachers, lecturers, universities and schools, libraries, organisers of exhibitions. In addition, information on specific topics is supplied to individual enquirers. All these services will continue in the coming financial year and demands will be met as adequately as possible.
Because of the need to curtail public expenditure, the Grant-in-Aid for Cultural Relations with other countries for the year 1966-67 was reduced to £5,900, considerably below the level of previous years. I am glad to say that for 1967-68 it has proved possible to increase the provision for this important aspect of my Department's work to £11,000. This provisions is still below that of 1965-66 but it will enable my Department to proceed with a variety of projects promoting knowledge of our culture abroad.
The advice which I receive from the Cultural Relations Committee in administering the Grant-in-Aid is of the greatest assistance to me in ensuring that the best use is made of our resources. I would like once more to thank the members of the Committee who give so generously of their time and talents to the work of the Committee.
Ireland continues to play an active part in the Council of Europe, which since the accession of Malta in April, 1965, now numbers eighteen member States. It provides a valuable forum for the exchange of ideas between the members of the two major economic groups—EEC and EFTA—and the other five Western European countries, including Ireland. Indeed the problems and prospects of European economic and political unity occupy a major position in the deliberations of both the Consultative Assembly and the Committee of Ministers.
As Deputies are aware, the former Taoiseach Mr. Lemass, addressed the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe in January, 1966. His address dealt with the Government's policy on European unity and the measures which have been and are being taken, with a view to closer economic co-operation in Europe, one of the most important of which was the signing of the Anglo-Irish Free Trade Area Agreement.
Since I presented the last Estimate for my Department, Ireland has signed and ratified the following international conventions:—
(i) the European Agreement concerning Programme Exchanges by means of Television Films;
(ii) the latest Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;
(iii) the European Convention on Extradition, and
(iv) the European Convention on Establishment.
The European Agreement for the Prevention of Broadcasts transmitted from Stations outside National Territories has also been signed by Ireland and steps are being taken for the early ratification of this Agreement.
The Population and Refugees Committee of the Assembly met in Dublin last July and two of the Committees of Experts of the Council—one on noise abatement and one on the European civil service—also met here.
The Conference of European Ministers for Education in Vienna in October, 1965, was attended by the then Minister for Education Deputy Colley.
Ireland received six fellowships under the Council of Europe Scheme of Fellowships for the benefit of social welfare personnel, in 1965 and again in 1966. Under the Council of Europe scheme for study visits abroad, an Irish group of sixteen students from the College of Industrial Relations was enabled to visit the Netherlands to study labour conditions and trade union affairs in the Netherlands.
A new and important departure in the working methods of the Council of Europe was made when the Committee of Ministers instructed the Secretary-General to draw up and submit to member Governments a concise programme of future work. I was happy to receive two visits from the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe who discussed with me, and other Ministers, matters relating to our participation in the work of the Council.
In the context of a review of major events since the Estimates of my Department were last discussed it would be appropriate to recall one event of major significance in our relations with Great Britain which occurred on 22nd February, 1965 when the present British Prime Minister generously responded to the Government's request for the repatriation of the remains of Roger Casement.
The British Prime Minister rightly stated in the House of Commons that this decision would lead to an improved understanding between the two countries. For all too long the question of the repatriation of the remains of Roger Casement constituted an unnecessary irritant in our mutual relations. The fulfilment of Roger Casement's wish, when his remains were reinterred in Glasnevin Cemetery on 1st March, 1965, in the plot selected by his sister, was greatly welcomed by Irishmen at home and abroad; and the fact that it came about soon after the centenary of Roger Casement's birth and shortly before the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Rising invested it with added significance.
Turning to the United Nations affairs, one of the most important decisions taken by the General Assembly at its last session was the unanimous re-appointment of U Thant as Secretary-General for another term of office of five years. This is a decision which was universally welcomed.
The General Assembly also passed by an overwhelming majority a resolution revoking the League of Nations Mandate over South West Africa. A Committee of 14 has been set up to report upon how the territory can be brought to independence. This Committee will report to a Special Session of the General Assembly to be held towards the end of April.
Another significant step taken by the United Nations was the decision of the Security Council to impose selective mandatory sanctions on Southern Rhodesia under the authority of Article 25 of the United Nations Charter. As the Dáil is aware the Government have already put into operation a system of economic restrictions against Southern Rhodesia following upon the Security Council resolution of November, 1965 even though that resolution was not mandatory. The Government intend to take any further action which may prove to be necessary to implement the mandatory sanctions.
Of less obvious significance was the agreement reached at the last session of the General Assembly on the text of a Treaty containing the principles which are to govern the activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space. While seemingly of less practical effect, this Treaty, when viewed in connection with the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and the Antarctic Treaty is another welcome step forward towards the restriction of the arms race, the reduction of tension and the betterment of relations between the Great Powers.
Another important achievement of the last session of the General Assembly was the adoption of the International Covenants on Human Rights. While the Covenants which had been under consideration by the Assembly since 1952 do not go as far as the European Convention on Human Rights, they are a valuable step forward in this very important field.
Another matter which occupied the attention of the United Nations during the past year was the financing of future United Nations Peace-keeping Operations. The Special Political Committee of the General Assembly passed a resolution, co-sponsored by Ireland and eleven other countries recommending a system of mandatory assessments. No decision has been taken by the Assembly on the matter and it will come up for consideration again at the Special Session of the Assembly to be held in April.
On the operational side of peace-keeping we have continued to maintain the Irish contingent, comprising approximately 520 all ranks, of troops with the United Nations Force in Cyprus and ten Irish Army officers continue to serve with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation in the Middle East. The Minister for Defence has just returned from a visit to our troops in these areas. He was glad to witness the high state of morale of our troops and to learn of the high esteem in which they were held by all who had occassion to deal with them.
Coming now to trade and economic matters generally Deputies will be aware that this is a sphere in which my Department shares responsibility with other Departments. I do not therefore propose to deal with such aspects of these questions as could more appropriately be discussed on Estimates for the Departments of the Taoiseach and other Ministers.
The increased liberalisation of trade in recent years, as well as the growth in Europe of trade blocs, has reduced the possibilities for the conclusion of bilateral trade agreements at Government level. With the notable exception of the Free Trade Area Agreement with Britain, these agreements must inevitably be of diminishing substance because of the extent to which other countries have liberalised their import régimes. The days of easy selling under bilateral quotas have given way to an atmosphere of more aggressive marketing in freer trading conditions; thus export promotion has become a primary preoccupation of exporting countries. My Department continues to assist not only the State-sponsored bodies operating in this field, such as Córas Tráchtála, Bord Fáilte and Bord Bainne, but also commercial organisations and private export interests. When our Missions are advised as to products available for export they are in a favourable position to advise exporters on market conditions and prospects for individual commodities, to arrange suitable contacts for visiting businessmen and to suggest reliable agents for the handling of an exporter's products. I am happy to say that increasing and fruitful use is made by our exporters of these facilities.
In the course of 1966, our Trade Agreements with France, Germany and Finland were again renewed and further negotiations with the French and Finish authorities are expected to begin shortly. Our Trade Agreement with Germany will come up for renewal in 1968. We are also exploring the possibilities of concluding a Trade Agreement with Japan.
The past year has seen the coming into operation of the Free Trade Area Agreement with Britain. This is a development in the economic relations between the two countries of the greatest importance and potential, not alone because of the opportunities which it provides for our exporters, but because the operation of the Agreement provides a valuable preparation for the more intensive and wider ranging free trade conditions which full participation in an enlarged European Economic Community will involve for Ireland.
Membership of the European Economic Community is, of course, a main objective of the Government in the field of external economic policy. We noted with great satisfaction last year the resolution of the crisis in the internal affairs of the EEC which, while it lasted, ruled out any progress being made in the re-activation of the applications for membership of the applicant countries, including Ireland. The Community is now in a somewhat better position to devote attention to its relations with other countries and this led us to establish a separate Diplomatic Mission to the Communities. We followed this decision with a Ministerial visit, comprising the then Minister for Finance and myself, to the Commission in Brussels in September of last year. We had a wide-ranging discussion with members of the Commission and arranged for a further series of Ministerial visits on specific aspects of the Community of interest to Ireland. We were impressed by the appreciation of Ireland's position shown by the members and officials of the Commission.
As Deputies are aware, a visit by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries took place last month and further Ministerial visits are now being planned.
A significant and hopeful development has been the recent decision of the British Prime Minister, Mr. Wilson, to embark on a series of discussions with the Governments of the European Community in order to establish whether it is opportune to revive the British application for membership. I was present at Mr. Wilson's address to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg last month and noted that the serious and constructive manner in which he is approaching the question of British membership was warmly welcomed by individual members on all sides. I may add that in answering questions relating to the unity of Ireland, Mr. Wilson clearly indicated that he did not regard the maintenance of Partition as a vital British interest and that he was prepared to give a United Ireland his blessing if it were negotiated between Dublin and Belfast.
At their meeting in London in December of last year, the Taoiseach discussed with Mr. Wilson the new British approach to Europe and arranged for us to be kept closely informed of developments. He expects to have a further meeting with Mr. Wilson at the conclusion of the latter's series of visits to the European capitals. As the Taoiseach has announced, the Government propose to issue a White Paper on the European Communities shortly which will not alone summarise the provisions of the Treaties establishing the three Communities, but will also deal with developments in each of the Communities since their establishment.
The Kennedy Round of tariff negotiations in the GATT, if successful, could be of considerable importance in providing increased access for our exports to other countries. As Deputies are aware, Ireland, although not yet a member is participating in the Kennedy Round negotiations with a view to our accession to the GATT. We have appointed a Permanent Representative in Geneva with a view to servicing my Department and the other Departments concerned in this matter. Our representative there also services the other specialised agencies of the United Nations who meet in Geneva.
Ireland continues to participate fully in the activities of the OECD. Our Ambassador in Paris is our Permanent Representative to the Organisation. Government Ministers have attended the more important of the Organisation's meetings during the year and Committee meetings were also attended, where appropriate, by officials of other Government Departments and of such bodies as the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, An Foras Talúntais and Bord Fáilte.
As we all know, the question of aid to developing countries is a frequent subject of discussion these days. While it is natural that we should be preoccupied with the development of our own economy, it is important that we should not lose sight of the tremendous economic and social needs of less developed countries and of the part we might appropriately play in assisting them. I need hardly say that anything the Government can do to assist less-developed countries falls far short of what is being done, and has been done for years, in the field of education and medical care, by the more than 7,000 dedicated members of our missionary orders.
But apart from our annual contributions to international organisations concerned with development aid such as the UN Development Programme and the World Food Programme, the Government endeavour to assist developing countries in the recruitment of Irish professional and technical personnel for service in those countries. In recent years Irish laymen and women who have valuable expertise and skills to offer, are, in increasing numbers, giving periods of service to developing countries. The Government for some years past have given special leave and safeguarded the pension rights of civil servants and teachers who wished to serve for a period in these countries. We have also given periods of in service training here to more than 400 young men from these countries. This type of assistance is much appreciated by the Governments concerned.