asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if any discussions have taken place at Council of Ministers level in the EEC on the formulation of an EEC industrial policy especially in the electronics and information industry areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Industrial Policy.
2.
There has been discussion at the level of Council of Ministers in the EEC on the formulation of an EEC industrial policy but little progress in this regard has been made.
As regards the electronics and information industry areas, while there have been no discussions on formal policy as such in relation to these areas, various programmes of action have been approved by Council over the years. The main and most recent programme is the Esprit Programme which takes account of the need to develop a competitive community information technology industry and which was approved by Council on 28 February 1984. This is a Community research and development programme, estimated to cost the EEC 750 ECUs over five years, aimed at research in the areas of information technology. The programme requires transitional collaboration between firms in the sector or between industrial firms and universities in relation to any particular project. Every effort will be made to ensure the maximum participation by Irish interests in the programme.
Proposals for the development of the telecommunications sector — which is inextricably linked to the information technology sector — have been formulated by the Commission. At a Council of Ministers meeting on 4 November 1983 it was decided that these proposals should be further examined. This examination has taken place but the matter has not yet been resubmitted to the Council of Ministers.
Is the Minister aware that many of these States operate what can only be described as very protectionist policies in relation to the telecommunications industry? Has this item been discussed at ministerial level and has any effort been made to break down the barriers that are hindering the development in Ireland of telecommunications-linked industry?
The answer to the three parts of the Deputy's question is yes. This matter was discussed, apart from the meeting I mentioned, at an informal meeting of Ministers of Industry last month in Paris and which I attended.
There is a renewed sense of urgency on the part of the Community institutions to do something about this matter because it is recognised that the existence of separate Community markets for telecommunications equipment is highly unhealthy both from the point of view of small countries like Ireland and from the point of view of achieving economies in scale and international competitiveness for the new European telecommunications industry. I am fairly confident that there will be some progress in this regard during the Irish Presidency of the commission. In so far as my functions are concerned I intend doing everything possible to achieve progress because the present situation is to the detriment of Irish firms.