Vol. 423 No. 1
151 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Marine if, in respect of the recommendations of the Culliton Committee, he will outline, for each recommendation concerning his Department, the action, if any, which he has already taken or proposes to take, the changes involved and the cost of such action; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Culliton report makes a large number of recommendations covering the whole public sector and a wide range of management issues. The spirit and thrust of Culliton will be brought to bear in all aspects of the development of my Department's role. The report, however, did make a number of major specific recommendations relevant to the Department of the Marine in particular in relation to ports and the food sector as far as fish is concerned.
The report recommended major changes in the institutional framework and ownership of ports. On the basis of that report and the main recommendations of the Review Group on Commercial Harbours and Pilotage Policy and Legislation, the Government have given approval to the drafting of a new Bill to re-organise the management of commercial ports. The new legislation will set up commercial State companies to manage a total of 12 ports, provide for the re-organisation of port pilotage services, transfer responsibility for harbours of lesser commercial significance to the local authorities and designate Dingle Harbour as a Fishery Harbour Centre.
The detailed recommendations of Culliton in the food sector are the subject of a full examination by an interdepartmental committee, which will report before the end of this year.
