18 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if her Department have made a request to the EC for financial assistance for new ferries serving routes to and from Ireland; if she will outline the response received to such request; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

37 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she has satisfied herself that sufficient investment and improvement in road, rail, air and sea transport will be provided in the future to alleviate any trading difficulties that might arise from Ireland's position as an island nation within the European Community; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

44 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she has received any reply from the EC Commission in relation to the question of granting financial assistance towards the provision of a sea bridge, such as finance for shipping, in the context of Ireland's peripherality in the Single European Market; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 37 and 44 together.