asked the Minister for Communications when he intends setting up the port authority at Rosslare harbour as promised in Building on Reality, 1985-87; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rosslare Harbour Port Authority.
10.
Rosslare harbour is owned by the Fishguard and Rosslare Railways and Harbours Company which is a joint undertaking of CIE and Sealink British Ferries Ltd. The national plan provides for the establishment of a harbour authority for Rosslare harbour which is at present managed and operated by CIE.
The precise from of legislation needed to give effect to the Government's decision is at present being examined. As it may take some time to effect the necessary legislative changes both here and in the UK, I am looking at the possibility of setting up an interim arrangement but it is not possible at this stage to say what form this might take.
Can the Minister indicate the extent of the Sealink financial interest in Rosslare?
Under the Act of the UK Parliament which preceded by many years the independence of this part of the country a company was set up to own and run Fishguard and Rosslare and the ownership of those two ports is still vested in that company. However, the operating of those two ports has been designated in the case of Rosslare to CIE and in the case of Fishguard to Sealink. There is no particular financial input from Sealink in Rosslare. The de facto situation is that CIE really own Rosslare and Sealink own Fishguard but in order to change the arrangements legislation will be required both here and in the UK.
It is in the latter part of the answer that I am interested. Seeing that Sealink have been privatised what is the situation with regard to the legalities now? Can the Minister say if, as of now, the people who purchased Sealink are in the same position as the British Government were before the company was privatised?
The point as to whether or not all the legal formalities have been gone through in transferring Sealink from public ownership in the UK to private ownership was raised recently, as were the implications of the transfer of ownership of the port of Fishguard. I am getting legal advice as to whether or not the legal transfer has been completed. It is one of the issues which may be taken up with the UK authorities in discussing the legislation necessary in relation to Rosslare.
I have a final supplementary question, with the Chair's indulgence. Will the Minister say when the port authority will be established in so far as he can foresee it? I know the Minister has to depend on the House of Commons as well.
We are talking about a couple of years at best. That is why I am anxious to proceed with some form of interim arrangement whereby we can have some local involvement in the running of the port. We have been discussing this with CIE and I hope we can proceed on that basis in the near future.
Question No. 11.
I need the Chair's guidance on this matter. I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 16 together and Question No. 16 is a priority question.
That is in order.