Vol. 380 No. 1
asked the Minister for the Marine whether he has any plans for the development of amenities in the Dublin port area; his views on the application by the Dublin Port and Docks Board for a harbour works order for a further 52 acres; and whether he intends to hold public hearings to consider public objections in advance of reaching a decision.
92.
asked the Minister for the Marine whether he has received an application from Dublin Port and Docks Board, County Dublin seeking to reclaim 52 acres of Dublin Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
93.
asked the Minister for the Marine whether he has received a decision on the application from Dublin Port and Docks Board, County Dublin seeking to reclaim 94 acres of Dublin Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 92 and 93 together.
I have no plans for the development of amenities in the Dublin Port area.
Dublin Port and Docks Board have applied to me for a harbour works order to reclaim approximately 21 hectares, about 52 acres of foreshore east of the Sealink freight terminal to construct a 550 metre quay on the river side of the reclaimed area and to provide associated ancillary facilities such as roads and lighting. An earlier application to reclaim approximately 38 hectares, subsequently reduced to 32 hectares, has been withdrawn by the board.
Notice of the proposed order was published by the board in the national press on 22 April, 1988, as required by harbours legislation and 21 days have been allowed for receipt of objections or representations. In arriving at my decision on the board's application, I am obliged to take into account any such representations made to me by interested parties. I have consulted the Minister for the Environment and the local authority whose views I will also take into account.
When I have considered all objections and representations I will decide whether a local inquiry is necessary.
Let me ask the Minister a number of supplementary questions. Can he tell us why he has permitted the publication of this order at this stage and when he expects to be in a position to make a decision? Can he further tell us whether he has at least considered and assessed the amenity and environmental aspects of this proposal and would he consider that a public inquiry is justified on those grounds?
Let me set out the statutory position under the Harbours Act in relation to issues of this nature as this may clear up some of the points which the Deputy has raised. Section 134 of the Harbours Act, 1946 empowers the Minister by a harbour works order to authorise a harbour authority to construct quays, embankments and other works subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Minister thinks proper. Under section 136 of the Act the harbour authority must publish such notice of the proposed order as the Minister may direct. Any interested parties——
I do not think the Minister should be interrupted in the course of his reply. Let us hear the Minister's reply.
The Minister has dodged answering the question.
The Minister to continue without interruption.
I do not know what the Deputy is on about. We are endeavouring to be as helpful as we can, just as we always do.
We all know the section of the Act.
Tell us.
This is a bit much.
Section 137 of the Act provides for the holding of a local inquiry in regard to a proposed harbour works order if the Minister thinks fit. That is the law.
Is the Minister aware of the extent to which the publication of the notice and the advance publicity has given rise to considerable alarm and anxiety among the people living along the bay? Is he also aware of the very solemn assurances which were given to the people of Clontarf by his party colleagues, the Taoiseach and the Government Chief Whip, that no development which would be injurious to the amenities of the bay would be allowed to take place?
It would be my wish that no developments which would be injurious to the amenities of the bay would be allowed to take place in the bay or in any other bay. I cannot be responsible for any misrepresentations which people may put on any applications made. I have endeavoured to set out the facts and the legal requirements which have to be complied with.
I am glad the Minister has given an assurance that nothing will take place which will be injurious to the amenities of the bay. Can he tell us whether he is aware that during the course of successive election campaigns the Fianna Fáil candidates in the area made clear their total opposition to any reclamation and can he tell us whether he will be giving effect to party policy when it comes to making a decision?
I will have to comply with the statutory obligations and, as I have already indicated, we will be taking into account all the views and representations which have been submitted. We will be more than anxious to take into account the views of the Deputies for that area.
All of them?
All of them.
Question No. 11 has already been dealt with. We will now move on to deal with Question No. 12.
I will accept a written reply to Question No. 12 so that we can go on to deal with Question No. 13 in the name of Deputy Geraldine Kennedy.
It was to be taken with Question No. 28.
