asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he will make a statement detailing the discussions that took place at the Ministerial talks in Brussels on 29 November 1983 regarding Irish Steel Holdings, its pricing structures and its future.
Written Answers. - Irish Steel Holdings.
188.
The meeting in Brussels on 29 November, to which the question refers, was a meeting of the Council of Ministers (Steel). Its purpose was to consider proposals by the Commission for the introduction of a short-term minimum prices regime for certain steel products and of deposit and monitoring systems all aimed at improving the level of prices and restoring order to the Community steel market.
The EEC was, in principle, in favour of the introduction of a short-term minimum prices regime and a further meeting of Council is being held today, 14 December, to deal with the details of the deposit and monitoring systems, which will require its unanimous assent.
Neither ISL nor any other steel undertaking was specifically dealt with by Council.
As to the future of ISL, the Government will be taking decisions early next year. Any decision involving further State aid to the company would require to receive the prior approval of the Commission.