asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if this country was proposed as a site for an EC marine project at a recent ministerial meeting in Luxembourg; if the research programme has been agreed; and if he will make a statement on the likely success of the siting in this country.

There is as yet no EC marine research centre as such; neither have any definitive proposals in that regard been drawn up as part of the Community's current research programme.

However, in the course of discussions at the EC Research Council in Luxembourg on 4 June last, I took the opportunity to indicate that, in the event of the Community deciding at a future date to establish a marine science and technology centre, we would be very interested in having such a centre located in Ireland.

At this stage it is not possible to say whether the Community will decide to establish such a centre or, if so, when such a development would be likely. However, the Deputy may be assured that every suitable opportunity will be taken to press the case for having such a centre located in Ireland.