asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the work to date of the EUROPEN Bureau; the programme of work and activities which it intends to undertake in 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EUROPEN Bureau Activities.
4.
Since it was established in the summer of 1988 the EUROPEN Bureau has undertaken the following activities: the organisation of a major awareness campaign through TV, radio, press and poster advertising; the publication and distribution of over 175,000 information leaflets covering 14 key areas of the single market programme; the publication of an extensive market research survey gauging the awareness and level of preparation of Irish industry and related services to the internal market; the publication in Business and Finance magazine and Irish Business in co-operation with the Irish Business Bureau of a monthly news and information up-date on the single market; and the commissioning and publication, beginning this week of ten in-depth analyses of the implications of the single market for a broad range of key economic sectors of the Irish economy.
It was always envisaged that the initial phase of the EUROPEN campaign would be concentrated in 1988 and 1989 and that while this phase would be coordinated form the bureau set up in my Department, all Government Departments and semi-State bodies would be actively involved so as to keep Irish industry, and business generally, well informed about the implications of the single market. I am satisfied that this involvement has been a major contributing factor to the success of the campaign.
It has always been planned that the role of other Departments and State agencies would be progressively intensified, with the emphasis moving from awareness to preparation. This has been happening and, in the coming year, the ten sectoral studies will encourage national representative bodies, industry and trade associations, chambers of commerce, trade unions and individual firms to take all necessary measures, with advice and assistance from Departments and State agencies, as required.
Is the Taoiseach in a position to indicate the ten areas in which the in-depth analysis is taking place?
One of the reports has already been finalised, that of the construction industry, and I would be glad to let the Deputy have a copy of it. I will give him a list of the others. They are food processing; metals and engineering, group one, which is office and data processing, electrical engineering and instrument engineering; metals and engineering, group 2 distribution; transportation; textiles; tourism; financial services; the construction industry; chemical and pharamaceutical and health care.
Could I ask the Taoiseach if he would arrange for the trade union representatives of workers involved in the ten sectors to which the analyses are taking place to be kept fully up to date with regard to the implication that 1992 might have for their members so that even if the owners of the firms involved in those sectors are not taking their responsibilities seriously, at least the workers who will be directly affected by it will be able to take whatever steps they can, based on the information that would be available?
The reports will be published of course and will be available to the trade unions as well as to everybody else.
Is there any question of there being duplication or overlap in the work of the analysis being done here and that being done by the NESC?
No, I would not think so.
Could the Taoiseach indicate the distribution of responsibility?
Each sector is being studied under the EUROPEN programme. As I have said, I have a copy of the first report on 1992 and the construction sector. Perhaps if I send Deputies a copy of this report they will have a clearer idea of exactly what is in train.
The Taoiseach, in his first reply, indicated that he regards the campaign as a success. Could he indicate how this success is being measured? In what way does he consider the campaign to be a success? Could he also indicate what kind of responses industry and business are giving to the information that is being provided to them? Are they taking serious steps to regear themselves for the open market?
The Deputy is now seeking to broaden the scope of this question.
I am seeking clarification of the Taoiseach's statement that the campaign is a success.
The experience of those conducting the campaign is that they are getting a good response from all sectors and my own personal observation confirms that.