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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Nov 1986

Vol. 369 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dun Laoghaire Harbour Complex.

3.

asked the Minister for Communications if he is aware of the urgent need to set up a harbour authority in Dún Laoghaire harbour complex; the action he intends taking in the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Government decided in principle on 30 October 1986 that a harbour authority should be established for Dún Laoghaire harbour.

Will the Minister agree that that parliamentary question was one of a series put down by me over the past number of years? Will he further agree that it was placed before the Taoiseach made an announcement in connection with the proposed harbour authority at Dún Laoghaire Chamber of Commerce last Friday? Will he agree that the Taoiseach was engaging in politics and that it comes rather ill from him whose platform was one of political purity, to make such an announcement on a community occasion? Can he tell the House what the function of this harbour authority will be? Will he tell the House if the legislation is in place to produce this harbour authority? Can he tell me what he has in mind for the harbour authority, or is this just a piece of advance electoral packaging.

I commend Deputy Andrews for a record number of supplementaries. If Deputy Andrews wishes to share in the general credit for bringing about an announcement in relation to Dún Laoghaire Harbour we welcome him to the band of Deputies who deserve some credit for that, including the four Deputies in his constituency, but it is a bit much having wanted this announcement to be made to start cribbing about the motives. The Taoiseach accepted an invitation some months ago to address Dún Laoghaire Chamber of Commerce on 30 October. In the Green Paper on Transport Policy published earlier this year the future of Dún Laoghaire harbour was specifically raised. Three possible options were cited for its future. One was to incorporate it in a new overall ports authority; the second was to have a separate harbour authority for Dún Laoghaire; and the third was to continue with the present situation.

My Department decided that a new harbour authority was the best arrangement in all the circumstances. It is important to have some effective local participation in running the harbour. The memorandum to that effect was circulated to Departments many weeks ago. As a former Minister, Deputy Andrews will know that it takes some weeks to arrive at these decisions, so it had nothing to do with the placing of his question. The memorandum was circulated long before that. The legislation will be complex and will take some time to bring forward. The Taoiseach hopes that the legislation will be enacted during 1987, regardless of whether or not there is a change of Government. It will be complex because it means taking people out of the Civil Service and transferring them to a new authority. There are also many property issues to be addressed.

Can the Minister say what the functions of this authority will be? I am grateful to the Minister for the amount of time he has given to this question.

The Deputy can take it that the legislation creating a harbour authority for Dún Laoghaire will have functions similar to the functions of harbour authorities elsewhere. Special features in Dún Laoghaire will have to be taken into account.

In the interests of the harmony for which the Chair appeals and in order to expedite answers, will the Minister allow me to help him to clarify his mind about this by making available to him representations from Deputy Andrews, Councillor Harvey and others in Dún Laoghaire about this matter, over a long period?

I would be glad to have that. It is a pity my distinguished colleague opposite did not make the necessary decision when he was in Government.

It took the Government four years to make a decision.

I had only a gestation period of ten months.

The announcement was made on a very social occasion, a community occasion, and then credit was given to one individual Deputy. The other three Deputies from the Coalition who were present were not even mentioned. I can understand myself not being mentioned by the Taoiseach but, in the circumstances, Deputy Desmond, Deputy Cosgrave or Deputy Barnes were not mentioned either.

Question No. 4.

(Interruptions.)

I ask for co-operation from Ministers as well.

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