asked the Minister for the Marine the reason harbour boards have been denied representation on the committees set up by the Government in each region to prepare an integrated development plan for submission for aid under EC regional structural funds by March, 1988.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers - Harbour Boards Representation.
59.
The working and advisory groups for the preparation and implementation of programmes for the purposes of EC Structural Funds were set up by the Minister for Finance. My Department were requested to nominate a departmental representative or representatives for each working group and this has been done. The departmental representative will ensure that development proposals of harbour authorities will be considered for the purpose of the programmes. I have, in fact, asked the Minister for Finance to include representatives of the principal harbour authorities in the working and advisory groups.
Given the Minister's statement to the House today and the importance he attaches to the development of harbours in the advent of the Channel Tunnel, would he not agree that the harbour authorities representative should have been included at the start with the advisory groups?
I certainly appreciate that 1992 is just around the corner and that the Channel Tunnel will be completed at that time. Since we will be the only country in the Community that will not have a land link with the Community, the development of our harbours is vitally important. In the meantime, I can assure the Deputy that representatives from the Department of the Marine who are on the advisory committee will ensure that the best interests of the harbour authorities are taken into consideration. As I have said, I have asked the Minister for Finance to consider having representatives from the major harbour authorities.