Máirín Quill
Ceist:3 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the specific issues raised at his recent meeting with the Regional Affairs Commissioner, Mr. Bruce Millan, and his staff in Brussels.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meeting with Regional Affairs Commissioner.
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:42 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the matters discussed at his meeting in Brussels on 2 March 1994, with EU Regional Affairs Commissioner, Mr. Bruce Millan; in view of the meeting, whether areas of the National Development Plan, 1994-1999 under the auspices of his Department will have to be cut back; if he discussed the earlier views expressed by the Director General for regional policies, Mr. Eniko Landaburu on aspects of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 42 together.
At a recent meeting with Commissioner Bruce Millan the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Quinn, discussed progress in the negotiations on the Community Support Framework for Ireland in the period to 1999 and exchanges ranged over a number of areas. I understand it was agreed not to make any public comment on the specifics of those discussions.
Did the Commissioner confirm the total amount of EU funding to the Community Support Framework for the duration of the plan or give an intimation that in an enlarging Community additional funding will be allocated to Ireland at the mid-term review? If he did not give such an intimation, will the Minister of State agree that it is time we put in place a national plan based on reality and not on a bluff and bluster?
I was not present——
Perhaps the Minister should have been.
I am not privy to the discussions between Commissioner Millan and the Minister, Deputy Quinn, but I am sure they were productive because the negotiations between officials of my Department, the Department of Finance and the EU have been progressing at a steady pace. We are heartened by the positive signs emanating from the EU on the general scope of our plans in respect of human resources, a main priority in my Department. It appears that Commissioner Millan and the Minister, Deputy Quinn, gave each other a commitment not to speak in public about their meeting until the matter was fully dealt with.
If the Minister of State does not know and the Minister is not present, will the Minister of State at least concede that some people need to know now how much funding they will receive? For example, people in education who are planning programmes for in-service training for teachers need to know how much funding they will receive so that the planned changes can be put in place from next September. A number of other key training areas also need to know how much money they will receive to plan scientifically for the year ahead. The general public should also know, if the credibility of the Government is to be maintained.
The negotiations between Commissioner Millan and the Minister have been completed and general discussions are now taking place. Perhaps the Deputy might like to put a question to the Minister for Education in this regard but my Department is the parent Department for all training and education measures funded from Brussels. I assure the House that the general range of activities for education and training proposed by the Department of Enterprise and Employment to Brussels were the subject of discussion between Commissioner Millan and the Minister, Deputy Quinn. The general scope is being adhered to and is progressing well. I assure those outside the House who are concerned about training or education schemes commencing next September that their concerns are groundless.