Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:3 Mr. Deenihan asked the Taoiseach if he will give a progress report on his Department's promotion of the Shannon Estuary under his special economic development officer (details supplied); and the various contacts made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Estuary Promotion.
I refer to the replies which I gave to Questions Nos. 18, 83, 85 and 86 of Wednesday, 7 October 1992 and to Question No. 2 of Wednesday, 17 February 1993 relating to the promotion of the Shannon Estuary.
Formal arrangements have now been put in place within Shannon Free Airport Development Company, SFADCo, to co-ordinate and promote this project through the establishment of a staff project team, under the chairmanship of an assistant chief executive of SFADCo. The Secretariat is provided by SFADCo and membership also includes the Department of the Environment, the Department of the Marine, the IDA, Limerick Harbour Commissioners, Foynes Harbour Trustees and the University of Limerick.
The terms of reference of the project team were agreed by me in consultation with the relevant Ministers in November 1992 as:
To secure the integrated economic development of the Shannon Estuary as the focus for the establishment of Ireland as an economically strategic trading bridgehead between continental Europe and third countries.
Arrangements have been made by SFADCo for consultation with a wide range of public and private sector entities.
The strategic elements of international marketing of the European bridgehead concept will be more fully explored and the infrastructure provisions needed to underpin the concept are under review. An overview document, prepared by SFADCo, coordinating the various EC Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund submissions relating to activities within the Shannon Estuary area is currently being considered by the staff project team.
Work on a feasibility study, financed by the European Commission, in the context of the Euro-Quebec Hydro-Hydrogen Pilot Project is proceeding as indicated in my reply to Question No. 2 of 17 February 1993. This is expected to be completed in late autumn 1993. One of the aims of the study is to identify how the Shannon Estuary can exploit, and contribute to, emerging European policies on clean energy and clean production technology.
In relation to higher education, a delegation from the Russian Committee on Higher Education visited Limerick and Shannon, including the University of Limerick, in January 1993. General agreement was reached on areas of possible co-operation in areas such as technology transfer, management and administration of universities; mutual access to networks of academic and scientific information and related issues. A return visit by representatives of the University of Limerick to the Moscow Institute of Aviation and the Russian Research Institute for Higher Education is being arranged.
Limerick Harbour Commissioners are engaged in talks regarding possible importation in bulk of animal feeds for local use and for transhipment. They are also considering a coal transhipment project.
My Department's interest in the project will continue to be represented by Dr. Con Power under a contract with Nemesis Limited, a business development and public affairs consultancy of which he is a director.
After that elaborate reply it is difficult to pose suplementary questions. Will the Taoiseach say whether his Department is now responsible for promotion of the Shannon Estuary being transfered to SFADCo? Was the impression he gave at the Irish Management Institute Conferences in 1992 and 1993 correct, which was that his Department was handling the overall promotion of the Shannon Estuary? Will he also state whether the IDA land on the Tarbet/Ballylongford landbank is the main focus of his promotional exercise? Is he aware that at present the Louisiana Pacific Timber Company is seeking a location for a deep water port to set up a timber manufacturing project and will he use his good offices to ensure that the land bank in Tarbet/Ballylongford will be considered for this purpose?
The landbank at Tarbet/ballylongford is part of the overall area being taken into consideration in formulating an integrated project for the development of the Shannon Estuary. I am aware that Louisiana Pacific is looking at Ireland as a possible location before deciding where it will operate. The Minister for Agriculture will be following up that project within the next week or so and will have a meeting with them. First, we must endeavour to attract them to Ireland and then hopefully within Ireland, they will later make a final choice in regard to location. Certainly they will be shown areas with deep water facilities in which they are interested. One area with excellent deep water facilities is the one to which Deputy Deenihan referred. SFADCo is putting all the bits and pieces together from the various Departments.
In relation to the other part of Deputy Deenihan's question, the various Departments to which I referred in my reply are also contributing. The interest of my Department is being maintained through the representation of Dr. Con Power. I reiterate that the development of this concept is being assisted by the EC. SFADCo's involvement is in an endeavour to put it all together for examination in relation to Cohesion and Structural Funds for the future.
The Taoiseach has made a virtue of the concept of clean technology. Will he elborate what he means by "clean technology".
I am sure the Deputy is aware that the EC is expending considerable funds endeavouring to devise alternative ways and means of producing energy from cleaner technology, stop further emissions into the atmosphere and to cut down on CO² emissions. Consequently, the Euro-Quebec hydro-hydrogen pilot project forms part of it and is linked with Hamburg in Germany. Furthermore, the EC foresee possibilities of the Shannon-Estuary being used as a transhipment point for new, clean technology such as I spoke of in relation to hydrogen for the future. It is down the line but the Shannon Estuary may have a strategic role to play, dependent on what emerges from the studies being financed by the EC in that regard.
Will the Taoiseach clarify the role of his economic development officer who, in the past, was employed specifically by his Department and who is now under contract to Nemesis Limited? Will that officer be paid specifically on the basis of work undertaken in promoting the Shannon Estuary, or will he receive a fixed retainer fee? In addition, will he clarify his statement to the IMI Conference exactly a year ago in relation to there being a new dawn for the Shannon Estuary? Will he agree that, in order to show something tangible, the Louisiana Pacific Timber Company would be an ideal firm to be involved? Will the Taoiseach consider the County Limerick area on the basis of suitability of location and confirm that, while Limerick does not have a presence or representation at the Cabinet table, that will not detract from its being seriously considered?
The Deputy has raised some specific matters worthy of a separate question.
I will represent Limerick interests at the Cabinet table; the Deputy need not worry about that. Although the others are separate questions, I assure Deputy Finucane that Dr. Con Power is paid on a daily consultancy basis, not a retainer fee. Indeed I distributed the terms of his contract in the House a couple of weeks ago for Members who wanted to study them.
In relation to the Clare part of the Shannon Estuary, that too forms part of the overal study being undertaken. We shall await the proposals which emerge at the end of the day.
If my memory serves me correctly there was a proposal before us at one time of a single authority for the Shannon Estuary. Will the Taoiseach say what happened to that proposal and whether we can expect it to be reinstated in the House soon?
That is a separate question, that proposal died with the previous Government. I have no doubt that, if it constitutes an answer to some of the problems inherent in the development of the Shannon Estuary, it will come back into focus.
The Taoiseach referred to hydrogen technology as one of the activities he has in mind for the Shannon Estuary. Is he suggesting that liquid hydrogen will be stored at that site? Will he say whether he regards that as "clean technology" because it could be very dangerous technology?
No, it is one of the elements the EC is financing at present. If Deputy McDowell wants to throw cold water on EC research money being availed of here, so be it; we will let him run with that daft idea. In case the Deputy thinks I do not know anything about it, I could give him a lecture on it for half an hour if he wishes.
The Taoiseach is very good at creating a lot of hot air.
I will give Deputies a full lecture if they want to sit there and listen for half an hour. At the environmental conference in Rio de Janeiro last year I made quite clear Ireland's interest in relation to CO² emissions. I advanced proposals and said that some small Irish companies were involved in research in this area, contributing not only to endeavouring to develop technology for energy and steel production from a clean, renewable energy source but other developments also. That is the type of work going on in the background. I hope Ireland will lead the way rather than react to the proposals of others.
I am very interested in the Taoiseach's attitude to clean technology and in everything he said in Rio de Janeiro. Is he aware that there has already been a failure in the redistribution of coal at the Moneypoint pier? Was he saying, in replying to Deputy Deenihan, that this whole project has been reawakened because he will be aware that it was his Government who turned down the original proposal? Will he say whether that matter is again on the table?
If Deputy Carey had listened attentively, he would have heard that I said Limerick Harbour Commissioners were considering proposals for the bulk importation of animal feeds and coal.
I am calling Question No. 4.
On a point of order, before the Taoiseach leaves the House, I have a statement here, issued by him on 30 April 1992 in which he made an important announcement affecting many people.
Clearly, this is not a point of order.
I tabled a question to the Taoiseach on that very matter today——
I am sorry, Deputy Rabbitte, obviously you are intervening at the wrong time. If you proceed you will be disorderly.
The Taoiseach is about to leave the House, a Cheann Comhairle.
The Minister of State, Deputy Noel Dempsey, to reply to Question No. 4. Deputy Rabbitte may not proceed. The Deputy will now resume his seat.
I am merely querying why my question was transferred elsewhere.
Deputy Rabbitte will resume his seat.
So much for open Government.
The Deputy should resume his seat.
Who has responsibility for transferring questions?