asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if the Government have any plans for formulating a marine development policy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marine Development Policy.
5.
Policy in relation to the various marine activities has been the responsibility of a number of separate Departments. Recent developments in economics and technology have suggested that a unified policy, proceeding from a coordinated approach might be desirable. As a first step, the National Science Council, in co-operation with the OECD, have produced a survey of marine science policy which may provide a unified base from which to approach the question of marine development policy generally. Followup studies to the work of the NSC and OECD will be necessary before general policy can be determined.
Could the Minister say if any definite steps have been taken to follow up the programme outlined in the report of the National Science Council and, if so, in what field?
Let me say first of all that I share the Deputy's concern and I know of his concern in this area. Secondly it is one I have been very glad to be active in promoting because I think there is enormous economic potential in our sea. Thirdly, the OECD report which became available to us in final form in October, 1975, has been actively pursued under its various headings, and in this year's National Science Council's budgets a number of the things they gave top priority to are being very actively pursued. It is fair to say that — and I think it was indicated in my answer — one could not affirm that a fully evolved and coherent policy in regard to marine development exists, but it is also fair to say that in the last two years, since the committee of experts was appointed at my instigation in 1974, there has been a very real and detailed study. That study is one that the National Science Council is pursuing and its successor will pursue as a major priority of both scientific and economic effort for Ireland.
Can the Minister tell the House if anything is being done to have people trained in technology either here or in the other EEC countries or to what extent have we looked for assistance from our EEC partners in relation to the training that is necessary for young people who would be involved in this type of study or the work that is likely to follow the development which we expect to see——
The Deputy is raising specific matters now.
The question is very wide. I cannot answer it fully. I will happily co-operate in elucidating details for the Deputy but, in general, let me say we already have, particularly in Galway but also in other universities, quite strong faculties in some of the marine areas. We have very reasonable marine biology in all of our universities. In the naval architecture area Verolme had a connection with Dutch naval architects, who, in the matter of training, are admitted to have great expertise in world terms. The important thing is that in relation to the licensing for the Continental Shelf — I have not got the details in front of me — we have extracted a substantial amount of money which will be ploughed back into research and training in the development of all aspects of marine science. That is an important source of funding and it was an important consideration with us in negotiating the agreements with the oil companies.