asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbers Union has contacted his Department or the Secretariat at Maryfield regarding the proposed closure of the Harland and Wolff Shipyard; and the action, if any, he has taken in the matter.

I have not received any communication from a trade union on the subject of the possible closure of Harland and Wolff Shipyard.

The Taoiseach, however, has received letters from the union mentioned and has responded to the effect that the Government are conscious of the need to ensure that the skills and experience of the workers in this long established firm should not be lost. The Government will continue to bear such considerations in mind in the views and proposals they put forward to the British Government with a view to ensuring that employment levels are maintained in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland.

When the union concerned wrote to the Taoiseach did they request him to raise it through the Anglo-Irish Conference?

Yes, they requested him to raise it by that means and by other means.

They did ask him to raise it through the Anglo-Irish Conference.

Can the Minister indicate if representations have been received from other sectors of society in Northern Ireland? Is he aware that there is widespread concern right across the community in Northern Ireland concerning Harland and Wolff and that it would demonstrate a real concern on the part of the Irish Government if firm steps were taken to ensure not only that the skills were maintained but that the actual jobs at Harland and Wolff were maintained?

There is very widespread concern among the community in Northern Ireland, and particularly in the Belfast area, concerning the future of Harland and Wolff. We have raised it at the Anglo-Irish Conference as well. We know that the British Government are pursuing it as best they can and are following up various alternative proposals. I was very glad to see a copy of the letter to the Taoiseach from the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbers Union who asked him to make sure this matter was raised in the conference by the secretariat. It has been so raised, and was raised before we received the letter. In response to Deputy Barry they did raise it.

That is very important.