Vol. 462 No. 8
22 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to maximise Ireland's share of the extra £500 million for trans-European networks and the £560 million for research programmes as promised by the President of the European Commission, Mr. Jacques Santer during the review of the EU budget. [2766/96]
In a speech to the European Parliament on 31 January last, the President of the European Commission, Mr. Jacques Santer, indicated that the Commission was drawing up proposals for a revision of the existing financial perspective, which governs the EU budget up to the year 1999, in order to reallocate more funds to, inter alia, trans-European networks and research. However, the Commission has yet to bring forward a formal proposal for a revision. When it does, I can assure the Deputy that the proposal will receive very careful consideration in my Department.
For the information of the House, I would add that, at the monthly meeting of Finance Ministers in Brussels yesterday, a number of my colleagues expressed their outright opposition to any revision of the agreed financial perspective.
