Written question asked by Gwyneth Dunwoody (Labour) on Monday, 28 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 6 April 2005. It was answered by David Jamieson (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 April 2005 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Irish government regarding the cessation of payments from the UK General Lighthouse Fund for the provision of navigational aids in Irish territorial waters.

Answer: Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Irish Government regarding the cessation of payments from the UK General Lighthouse Fund for the provision of navigational aids in Irish territorial waters. [224600] Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply. We recognise that the current funding arrangements set out in the 1985 Agreement are increasingly inappropriate for today's political and commercial context. Following discussions at official level between the two Governments, the Irish Government's Department of Communication, Marine and Natural Resources have now stated that they have no objection in principle to participating in a review of the Agreement. We are now developing proposals for their consideration as a matter of priority.

Secondary information