Vol. 422 No. 1
3 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Marine if, in view of the strategic importance of seaports and their role in the economy, the Government have any proposals to produce a White Paper on the legislative, structural and commercial reforms required to modernise Irish seaports in line with the competitive demands of the Single European Market.
9 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Marine if he favours the proposal to restructure any of the existing Irish seaports into semi-State companies with tradeable shares; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
42 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for the Marine if he has yet received the proposed report on the development of major ports and harbours; if it is intended to publish the report; whether it is planned to abolish harbour commissions and replace them by semi-State companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
51 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for the Marine when it is intended to publish the report of the Harbour Review Group.
I propose to take Priority Questions Nos. 3, 9, 42 and 51 together.
The Minister has no plans to produce a White Paper on the future organisation of our commercial seaports. The Review Group on Commercial Harbours and Pilotage Policy and Legislation have now completed their task and the review group's report will be published next week.
The review group have put forward recommendations which are designed to ensure that future policy and legislation in relation to commercial ports will enable them to operate as truly commercial and self-sufficient enterprises, free from undue control by the State. The report and its recommendations will be evaluated in my Department in consultation with the social partners and other interested bodies. The review group's recommendations, if accepted by Government, will be implemented at the earliest date possible.
I am quite alarmed with that reply. Is the Minister aware that the previous Minister, Deputy Wilson, announced with great fanfare that the Harbour Review Group would be a watershed in relation to ports and that as regards the structural problems at Irish ports, their lack of capacity and competitiveness, legislation would be updated? Will the Government merely let this report gather dust and will the Minister confirm that the report recommends the establishment of semi-State companies in relation to a number of ports and recommends, too, new legislation and reforms of dock labour practices? Are the Government prepared now to give the green light to the recommendations of the report?
I agree with the Deputy that it is important that as many functions as possible be devolved to the port and harbour authorities. I appreciate that the Deputy was informed earlier in the year that the report would be available in March of this year. However, a copy of the report is available now and it will be published next week. On scanning through it I believe that the Deputy will be impressed with its contents. It would be unwise of me to suggest at this stage the recommendations that should be implemented. We look forward on publication of the report next week, to the comments and views of all interested parties, including Deputy Yates.
I assure the Minister that not only am I aware of the contents of the report but I am very supportive of them. What I am requesting is Government action to implement the recommendations of the report, and the best way to do that is through a White Paper. Will the Minister of State speak to the Minister with a view to having the matter reviewed in order to prevent the practice whereby four out of every ten containers travel through Northern Ireland? There should be proper concerted Government action to deal with outdated ports. Will the Minister consider publishing a White Paper and give it the type of priority that has been lacking in the past?
Time is fast running out for priority questions.
My views on this matter do not differ from those of Deputy Yates. I agree that it is not possible to operate under the 1946 Act. I repeat that the recommendations, if accepted by Government, will be implemented at the earliest possible date.
