Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Feb 1986

Vol. 364 No. 2

Canals Bill, 1985 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages.

Minister of State at the Department of Communications (Mr. Nealon)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 8, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:

"(7) Every by-law made by the Commissioners under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and if a resolution is passed by either House of the Oireachtas within the next twenty-one days on which such House has sat after the by-law is laid before it annulling such by-law, such by-law shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under such by-law."

Amendment agreed to.

Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

Mr. Wilson

I am pleased in general at having this Bill passed by the Oireachtas. I hope that the potential that we envisage will be realised. It is important that the Office of Public Works look at the scene now with a developmental eye. The matter can go into a backwater with people saying that the OPW are now responsible for it. I am not one of those who have been criticising that office as being automatically incompetent. Many stories go the rounds about the Office of Public Works. They have a reservoir of talent, particularly with regard to preservation, whatever about development. I am a little worried about development and that is why I thought it would have been desirable to have had a subhead. That would point the way to a developmental attitude towards the canals. The potential is great. I hope there will be a small nucleus of people, led by the Minister of State, whose aim will be to develop the canals for the benefit of the economy of the country basically and for the improvement of our environment also.

Mr. McCreevy

I had not the opportunity of speaking earlier on Second Stage.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

You will not have a Second Stage debate now.

Mr. McCreevy

I congratulate the Minister on bringing the Bill forward. I am glad to see this legislation enacted. The Grand and Royal Canals are being transferred from being under the aegis of CIE to that of the Office of Public Works. Nothing but good can come from this. It was just a small part of CIE's total operation and since the closing down of the canals in the fifties CIE have not really had any interest in them. I hope the Commissioners of Public Works will develop the canals. This is a very important asset for the country and can attract more tourism. The canals are an integral part of our tradition. Certainly they are of the tradition of the area from which I come. I have operated canal boats, slept in them, canoed and had a lot of sport on the canals all my life and so had many generations before me. I hope the Commissioners of Public Works will develop the canals and try to realise their full potential. They can be a very important part of Irish life. Amenities on the canal are a very short distance from Dublin and if developed to their proper potential will have a very beneficial effect on the economy. I hope the Commissioners take it as their very serious duty not to allow them to languish as happened since the canals closed in the fifties.

Mr. J. Leonard

This has been a long debate. I hope this is not just a transfer of control and that the matter will lie dormant. I trust the canals will be developed, and developed to their fullest potential as quickly as possible. This could be fund raiser and a great attraction from an amenity point of view for tourists.

Mr. Nealon

I wish to thank very much the Deputies for the manner in which the Bill was received.

Mr. Wilson

I thank the Minister for his attitude.

Mr. Nealon

I thank them for their excellent contributions which will lead to a better Bill in all respects. I am just acting as a vehicle. The canals are now to be handed over to the Commissioners of Public Works and I am delighted. They have a particular expertise and care in this area and will do an excellent job. It is the opening up of a new era for our canals. It is the interest of the Deputies which will ensure that the momentum is kept up. I am sure the Commissioners of Public Works will be delighted to get this new area of great potential under their control and will use it to the maximum advantage.

Question put and agreed to.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Bill to be returned to the Seanad.