Vol. 416 No. 3
4 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Marine when it is anticipated that the report of the harbour review group will be completed; if he intends to publish this report; and if he has any timetable for implementing the recommendations of the review group.
I understand that the Review Group of Commercial Harbours and Pilotage Policy and Legislation, which has been in session since January 1991, has now almost completed its task and expects to be in a position to present its report and recommendations to me before the end of March.
I would be in favour of publishing the group's report and a final decision in this regard will be made following receipt of the report.
The recommendations of the review group, if accepted by Government, will be implemented at the earliest possible date. The main constraints in this regard would be the specialist personnel required to draft and implement the necessary legislation.
I welcome the appointment of Deputy Woods as Minister for the Marine. Is he aware that his predecessor deferred any reform in the area of ports subject to this report being received? Is he aware that the Harbours Act, 1946, is a major bureaucratic stranglehold on the efficiency of Irish ports? Is he further aware that Irish ports are three times more expensive than their counterparts in Northern Ireland resulting in a huge flow of exports, of traffic and of freight out of this country through non-republican ports in the South? Can he now give a commitment to update the Harbours Act, 1946, as a matter of Government priority?
The task of the review group was to review the policy and the legislation. I realise the legislation needs updating. We do not have very long to wait at this stage as I am satisfied the report will be available before the end of March. We will be in a position then to take action which I expect will be along the lines the Deputy would be seeking. The question of how expensive a particular port is depends on many factors. Of course, the nearer one is to the other side is a help because there may be a great volume of traffic coming and going on a regular basis. The current investment which is taking place in ports is designed to improve access and make the ports more efficient and more competitive. A more substantive discussion can take place as soon as we have that report.
Perhaps we will have a brief question from Deputy Yates as time is fast running out.
I appreciate that. This is a fundamental issue of policy because under the 1946 Act ministerial consent is required for virtually every function of a harbour board in relation to personnel, borrowing, property, harbour rates and dues. Can the Minister give a commitment to the House now that he is prepared to remove this stranglehold on harbours and give them a more commercial rather than a bureaucratic ethos in a policy statement?
I would be happy to state that I want to see them operate commercially and deal with their day-to-day activities, while the overall policy would be a matter for the Minister of the day.
