I beg to move:
That it is expedient that a Tribunal be established for inquiring into a definite matter of urgent public importance, that is to say, the present position of the several ports and harbours in Saorstát Eireann specified in the schedule to this resolution, with special reference to:—
(a) the constitution, powers, and methods of administration of the authorities controlling or managing such ports and harbours,
(b) the charging powers, financial position and resources of such authorities,
(c) the facilities provided for trade and commerce in such ports and harbours, and the extent to which such trade and commerce is conducted in shipping owned in Saorstát Eireann,
(d) the present statute law relating to such ports and harbours and any changes therein of a general or a particular nature which appear necessary or desirable in order to promote the trade or commerce of Saorstát Eireann.
SCHEDULE.
List of Harbour Undertakings.
Annagassan Pier, Arklow Harbour, Ballyshannon Harbour, Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour, Cork Harbour, Dingle Harbour, Drogheda Harbour, Dublin Port and Docks (including Balbriggan and Skerries Harbours), Dundalk Harbour, Foynes Harbour, Galway Harbour, Killybegs Port and Harbour, Kilrush Harbour, Kinsale Harbour, Limerick Harbour, Moy River Commission (Ballina), New Ross Port and Harbour, Sligo Harbour, Tralee and Fenit Port and Harbour, Waterford Harbour, Wexford Harbour, Westport Harbour, Wicklow Harbour, Youghal Harbour.
I am moving this motion under the Tribunal of Inquiry (Evidence) Act of 1921, as I did the resolution dealing with the establishment of the Food Tribunal. I should like at the outset to call attention to a certain phrase in the motion. It reads:
That it is expedient that a tribunal be established for inquiring into a definite matter of urgent public importance, that is to say——
I want to emphasise what follows:
the present position of the several ports and harbours in Saorstát Eireann specified in the schedule to this resolution...
In the schedule there is a complete list of the harbour undertakings built and operated under statutory authority. I am not including any port which does not fall into that category. I am not setting up a tribunal to inquire into whether any new ports and harbours should be built and operated, but simply with regard to those which are, in that particular way, operated— whether the legislation setting them up, and the method of administration is suitable, and to make a report upon the matter set out in the four subheads. I bring it forward as a matter of urgent public importance, even although limited to the harbours identified, as I have identified them. It has long been a matter of concern to my Department to have the existing con stitution, powers and methods of administering those authorities inquired into. It is a matter that we had thought necessary to have inquired into ourselves, and a matter on which we had received an amount of correspondence which almost equals that sent in on any other subject.
There seems to be a general concensus of opinion through the country that the method of administration of the authorities controlling harbours of this type is not all that it might be. There has been pretty well the same type of complaint sent forward with regard to the harbours mentioned. In some cases, on the information at the Department's disposal, it seems that complaints were justified, and in some cases even on the material on which the complaint was based. In other cases, it does not seem that there is any ground for complaint at all, but complaints have been made and it seems desirable and urgent, and a matter of public importance, that those complaints should be sifted; that the whole matter should be subjected to review and, if the tribunal likes to bring in recommendations with regard to improvements that might easily be affected in the way in which the harbours are administered, it will be then for the Dáil later to consider whether they should be followed up.
May I again emphasise what appears to have been misunderstood with regard to this Tribunal of Inquiry (Evidence) Act on the last occasion. This is a resolution which, if passed by the Dáil and Seanad, allows an instrument of appointment of a tribunal, and that instrument appointing a tribunal referring to the Tribunal of Inquiry (Evidence) Act of 1921 gives the tribunal pretty well the fullest possible compulsory powers with regard to the calling of evidence, the taking of evidence on oath, the inspection of books, and the bringing of witnesses before them. I stated that, as I thought quite specifically and clearly, in regard to the last inquiry, and it was stated afterwards in one of the newspapers that the matter had been left vague. I do not want there to be any appearance even of leaving anything vague this time. If this resolution be passed by both Houses—if it seems to both Houses that it is a matter requiring an inquiry of this sort—then that instrument referring to this particular Act empowers the tribunal to take evidence on oath, sets up certain penalties, and gives all the powers of the High Court with regard to the production of evidence under compulsion.
The motion is sufficiently detailed not to require any great explanation from me. I should like merely to emphasise the negative side of it—what it is not intended to do. This is not an inquiry into the opening up of new ports or harbours; it is an inquiry into that group of harbours, as I have limited this, operating under statutory authority. That seems to be a special compartment which can be inquired into by itself, has no repercussion on the other question, and is not bound up with the question of development of new harbours or with the question of transport in its entirety.