Vol. 405 No. 1
18 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the employees of B & I have elected their worker directors to the board of the company; whether he intends to ratify their appointment to the board; when this will be done; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Following elections carried out under the terms of the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Acts, 1977 and 1988, I appointed four worker directors to the board of the B & I Line plc on 28 January 1991.
For how much longer does the Minister expect the board of the B & I to be in existence?
I cannot put a date on it. As the Deputy is aware, we are engaged in discussions with Irish Ferries with a view to sorting out the future of the B & I Line. The question of the board will be considered during the course of those talks.
I would like the Minister to be more precise in indicating if he anticipates that these talks will be completed by Easter or the start of the summer season. When will these discussions be completed?
Within a few weeks.
Can the Minister tell us if a number of the directors of the board are out looking for some ships at present to bring the expected tourists from Europe? Would the Minister confirm that that is what they are doing at present?
B & I are running the company in the ordinary way and are pursuing their ordinary marketing and business operations at present.
How many are out looking for ships?
I do not know.
I can give the Minister the figure if he so wishes.
That disposes of questions for today.
