Vol. 431 No. 2
1 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for Defence if he will afford the Legislative and Security Committee the opportunity of discussing his proposals for the spending of European Cohesion Fund moneys before final decisions are taken on such proposals.
The only moneys received by the Department from the European Community arises from the EC Fisheries Council decision in November 1989 providing for funding for fishery surveillance in member states for the period 1991 to 1995. A programme for the purchase of one used CASA aircraft and two new maritime patrol aircraft for use in fishery surveillance was lodged with the EC in June 1990. Ireland's programme which will be completed in 1995 qualifies for a contribution rate of 50 per cent and to date £7 million has been refunded by the EC.
I am also arranging to examine the question of the provision of assistance from the European Social Fund in respect of the retraining of personnel discharged from the Permanent Defence Force.
While I have no proposals at present in regard to availability to Cohesion Funds in the military area, I will be glad to have the committee informed of any developments in the future involving European Community funding.
I hope the Minister's Department obtains funding from the European Cohesion Fund. Prior to any Government decision being taken this House, through the committee system, should have an opportunity of discussing the Minister's proposals. This would make the committee system more meaningful. Is the Minister aware that I have requested that the Select Committee on Legislation and Security should deal with marine matters so that his portfolio, which includes both Defence and the Marine, would be covered by one Dáil committee. It is vitally important that we have the opportunity, both in the Defence and the Marine areas, to discuss the opportunites for this country through the allocation of Cohesion Funds. Did the Minister receive any indication from the Department of Finance as to the allocation to be made to his Department from the Cohesion Fund, particularly in the light of the fact that this country has to protect a higher percentage of the total coastline of the EC? The figures the Minister supplied seem relatively small for that job.
The figure to deal with coastal erosion for this year, for example, is only £200,000. In the context of the six year development programme we would be talking of a figure in the order of £16 million distributed over that period.
In relation to the Select Committee on Legislation and Security I am as anxious as the Deputy to see that system work to the advantage of Oireachtas Éireann and the Dáil in particular. From my point of view any issue of major importance which would require consultation with my colleagues in a global party context would be brought to the attention of the select committee. The Deputy's question regarding the Department of the Marine being linked to the Select Committee on Legislation and Security is a good one. I will discuss that matter with the Government Chief Whip, Deputy Dempsey, who deserves much credit for introducing the principle of the committee system and I will be guided by his views in that regard. I agree it causes a difficulty for me as Minister for Defence and Minister for the Marine to be required to switch from one select committee to another. The Opposition spokesmen would experience the same difficulty unless they are members of more than one select committee.
In relation to the issue of the Structural Fund and the Cohesion Fund, I am anxious, for the future not only of the Department of the Marine but the fishing tradition here, our ports and harbours whether primary ports, commercial ports, secondary ports or small harbours in rural Ireland, that we can maximise the amount of money obtained from the intended allocation by the Department of Finance to the Department of the Marine. I am very conscious of the need to obtain as much money as possible in the context of what may be on offer. However, the Deputy will appreciate that it is premature to give any indication as to what the final sum of money may be because over the past number of days and weeks we have been in the process of negotiating what will be hopefully a meaningful figure to realise the plans for badly needed work. As an island nation we need to support the maritime tradition.
