asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his policy in relation to the publication of all reports commissioned by his Department or other agencies funded in whole or in part by his Department; if he will introduce changes to the present arrangements to ensure that all such reports are published in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

: It is not the practice of my Department to commission reports of the kind envisaged in the question although it has co-sponsored with the British authorities, with financial backing from the Commission of the European Communities in some instances, a number of special cross-Border studies with a view to furthering North/South economic co-operation in Ireland. These studies have been published. The Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO) who are funded by my Department have published a study undertaken by a working party on behalf of their council.