I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 25 together.
I would refer the Deputy to the action the Government have taken to encourage the expansion of the Irish registered fleet. On entering Government, a grants scheme was introduced in November 1987, providing financial support of up to 25 per cent towards the cost of ship purchase. In that year's Finance Act, the tax levied on shipping companies was reduced from 50 per cent to 10 per cent and shipping companies were granted access to funding under the business expansion scheme.
These measures have made a significant impact as may be deduced from the fact that since mid-1987, the capacity of the Irish registered fleet has expanded by more than 45,000 tons to approximately 183,500 tons, a percentage increase in excess of 30 per cent.
The Deputy may also be aware of the major study of our access transport requirements which was carried out earlier this year. That study sought to establish future priorities and identify the most effective means of combating the problem of peripherality in the context of the Single Market. A high level inter-departmental group is currently examining the study and will shortly be reporting to the Government in the matter. I am hopeful that when the facts of the situation have been established, a strong case can be made for Community support for improving our access transport services.
I am constrained in what I can say in response to the second part of the Deputy's question by the fact that legal proceedings have been initiated which render the matter sub judice. In the circumstances, I would refer the Deputy to the parliamentary questions answered on 24 November 1987 and 3 May 1988 by the then Minister of State for the Marine, Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher. On both occasions the Minister of State gave details to the House of the legal and financial sensitivities which pertain to the question of compensation for the former employees of Irish Shipping Limited.
In response to the first part of Deputy Gilmore's question, I can inform the Deputy that no extra costs arising from the liquidation of the company have been incurred by my Department since 16 May 1990. As to the second part of his question, I would point out that as legal proceedings have been pending since the middle of 1989, I have not met with representatives of the former employees over the past 12 months nor have I received a request for such a meeting. In reply to the remainder of the Deputy's question, I do not propose to set up a sworn public inquiry into the matter. Since the matter is already the subject of pending legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate to pursue the course of action suggested by the Deputy.
