asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he will outline the international organisations to which his Department pays subscriptions; the purposes of such affiliation; and if he will make a statement on the value of such affiliations.
Written Answers. - Departmental Subscriptions to International Organisations.
28.
Part of my reply to the Deputy's question is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
The statement which I have circulated lists the organisations to which my Department pays subscriptions. Generally speaking the organisations concerned are the world, European or regional bodies for the regulation, development and co-ordination of activities for which my Department is nationally responsible. Participation in the various organisations is necessary for the effective discharge of the Department's functions and to the safeguarding of Ireland's international interests.
List of Organisations to which the Department of Tourism and Transport pays subscriptions
(1) World Meteorological Organisation (WMO):
The WMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations established to provide for the overall co-operation of meteorological effort throughout the world.
(2) European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF):
The ECMWF, which is located in Reading in England, is a co-operative effort by 17 European countries with the objective of producing operational weather forecasts for the period 2-10 days ahead.
(3) European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT):
EUMETSAT comprises 16 European States acting in co-operation to provide the METEOSAT series of geostationary meteorological satellites over the Equator and the Greenwich Meridian.
(4) North Atlantic Ocean Stations Agreement (NAOS):
A number of countries, including Ireland co-operate to provide weather ships at fixed positions in the North Atlantic.
(5) European Network of Ocean Stations (ENOS) and Buoy Project
A number of European countries pool their resources for the deployment of automatic buoys for reporting meteorological data in waters adjacent to Western Europe. For this purpose payments are made to
—Societe Lorientaise de Peniture et Carenage,
—Euroshore
—Societe Metallurgique et Navale de Bretagne.
(6) International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG):
The IUGG exists to promote the study of the earth and the application of the knowledge so gained to the needs of society.
(7) International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO):
ICAO is an agency of the United Nations established to ensure that civil aviation is developed in a safe and orderly and efficient manner.
(8) European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC):
The objectives of ECAC are to review generally the development of European Air transport in order to promote co-ordination, better utilisation and orderly development of Air Transport in close liaison with ICAO.
(9) European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Euro-control):
Eurocontrol is an organisation, formed by a number of European countries to co-ordinate and co-operate in Air Traffic Control matters.
(10) The Central Office for International Carriage by Rail (OCTI):
OCTI is the permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental organisation responsible for the application and development of the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF).
(11) Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) / European Conference of Ministers for Transport (ECMT):
The Department contributes to the OECD to which the Secretariat of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport is linked. The objectives of the ECMT are to take whatever measures are necessary for the most efficient use and rational development of European inland transport of international importance;
—co-ordinate and promote the activities of international organisations concerned with European inland transport.
(12) Institut de Transport Aerien:
Ireland is an associate member of this organisation which has a centre in Paris to study the economic, technical and policy aspects of air transport and tourism.