Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 3

Written Answers. - Harbour Police.

Pat Carey

Question:

131 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will examine section 54 of the Harbour Act, 1996, in relation to the harbour police with a view to reinstating the privileges and protection which existed under section 214 of the 1869 Act; if he will consider the request that harbour police be included as peace officers in section 19(6) of the Criminal Justice Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6013/99]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

I have no plans to specifically review section 54 of the Harbours Act, 1996 nor to reinstate the provisions of section 214 of the 1869 Act mentioned by the Deputy.

Dublin Port Company and Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company are statutorily responsible under the Harbours Act, 1996 for the management, control, direction and development of the harbours as commercial State companies.

As the Deputy is aware section 54 of the Harbours Act, 1996 provided for the appointment to both of these port companies of constables formerly employed by the predecessor bodies of those companies. The responsibility for policing the jurisdictional areas of both port companies is a matter for the companies themselves.

I have instigated a general review of the operation of the 1996 Harbours Act, in conjunction with the Irish Ports Association and the port companies. The intention is to establish whether the legal framework under which the major State ports operate, is constraining in any way their ability to deliver on their commercial mandate both now and in the future. We need to be satisfied that port managements at the nine commercial State port companies are not being organisationally constrained by the present legal framework and also that private sector involvement and investment is not discouraged by it.