Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 6

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

334 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will pay compensation to an employee of her Department whose car was damaged while on departmental property particularly in view of the low income of the employee concerned. [10457/00]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):

The position in this case is that an employee of my Department parked his car outside the Dockmaster's house in Ringsend. The employee claims that his car was damaged whilst on canal property. My Department sought legal advise in relation to this matter and I understand that the Chief State Solicitor recently wrote to the employee's solicitor stating that my Department has no responsibility for the damage caused to this vehicle.

However, Waterways Ireland, a North-South implementation body for inland waterways, was established on 2 December 1999 on foot of the British-Irish Agreement and the supplementary Implementation Bodies Agreement signed in March 1999. It has the functions of management, maintenance, development and restoration of certain inland navigable waterways systems throughout the island, principally for recreational purposes. Accordingly, I have to advise the Deputy that the matter raised by him is one for consideration by Waterways Ireland.