asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the names of the persons nominated by him on the Cork Harbour Board and the interests they represent, and (b) the names of the persons nominated or elected to the board to represent agricultural producers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Harbour Board.
Under the provisions of the Harbours Act, 1946, four members of the Cork Harbour Board are nominated by the Minister for Industry and Commerce. The present nominated members of the board are: —
Mr. Henry Myles (renominated October, 1950), Mr. Anthony Barry (nominated 5th April, 1951) Councillor Michael Sheehan (renominated October, 1950), Mr. Cornelius Connolly, T.C. (nominated October, 1950).
The Act does not require that the persons appointed by the Minister should be representative of particular interests, nor does it provide otherwise for the representation of the interests to which the Deputy refers. The basis of representation is designed to secure efficient harbour administration as well as the provision of adequate portal facilities for all classes of traffic and for the users of the port.
Is it not correct to say that there is an obligation on the Minister, in making his nominations, to provide for representations for sections not otherwise represented on the board, and is the Minister aware that agricultural producers have no representation on the board and that the cost of their requirements and the cost of their produce is being taxed by the board in the interest of the vested interests who have representation on it and who get special harbour dues in relation to the commodities they are importing and exporting, putting excessive dues on the imports and exports of agricultural commodities?
That is quite a long speech the Deputy has made. There is nothing in the Act — and the question was raised at the time the Act was going through — compelling the Minister to see that particular interests are represented. There are a very big number of people represented on the Cork Harbour Board — the Cork Corporation, the Cobh Urban District Council, the Chambers of Commerce, the live-stock traders, the Federation of Irish Manufacturers, trade unions and so on. All these people were nominated and renominated by the previous Government. There was nothing which compelled the former Minister for Industry and Commerce to see that a particular interest was represented.
I do not care whether they were appointed by the previous Government or the present Government. Is it not a fact that when the Minister was given power in the Act to appoint four representatives on the harbour board, it was in order that representation should be given to interests which were not ordinarily represented?
If the Deputy looks back on the debate, he will see that that is not so.