Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Apr 2012

Vol. 763 No. 2

Topical Issue Debate

Newborn Screening Cards

Deputy Ann Phelan

As this is an issue which appears to have gone below the radar, I welcome the opportunity to raise it.

What is the position vis-à-vis the Data Protection Commissioner and his wish to destroy all the heel-prick data cards that are older than 11 years? This important test, in which blood is taken from the heel and stored on a card, is carried out on all babies born in Ireland. It is used to detect six inherited disorders, including cystic fibrosis. The test is carried out using a sample of the baby’s blood taken from the heel. The information from these tests could be invaluable in the future identification and treatment of many diseases that have so far eluded detection. The information stored on these cards could help isolate the reason for previously unexplained deaths, including sudden arrhythmic death syndrome which has already taken its toll on young people in this country. It seems the Data Protection Commissioner is concerned that some data held on babies may be compromised. This information has been collected, by means of a small blood test from newborn babies, since 1966 and has been stored, in confidence, in Temple St Hospital until July of last year. Why were these records moved? Who authorised moving them and where are they now?

The issue appears to relate to consent. From 1966 consent was verbal and later written. However, the storage of the screening cards was not explicitly referred to as part of consenting to the screening programme. A review carried out in 2009 by the Data Protection Commissioner indicated that those newborn screening cards which are currently stored without explicit consent should now be disposed of. Further, it was believed that this might breach European law on data protection. It is now the view that these cards should be destroyed. However, I believe there may be another approach. If a person, whose data are stored on one of these cards, does not wish it to be viewed by anyone under any circumstances, then perhaps it should be destroyed. However, the opposite position might apply. Another person might believe his or her card might contain useful information and may therefore wish it to continue to be stored. That should be the default position. People, who do not want their details kept on record, should make it known, but for those who are happy with the current situation, the information should be kept on record, but still under the proper protections.

If we destroy all the information it will be gone forever. However, if we store it within the bounds of data protection legislation with consent, it could be accessed by those who are entitled to do so and could be used to great effect. As this information could save lives why should we throw that away?

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Kathleen Lynch)

Following the receipt of a complaint regarding the retention of newborn screening cards, NSCs, also known as Guthrie cards, the Data Protection Commissioner, DPC, found that the retention of the NSCs without consent constituted a breach of the Data Protection Acts 1998 and 2003. Following numerous meetings between the deputy Data Protection Commissioner, representatives of the Department of Health, the HSE, Cork University Hospital and Temple Street Hospital, it was agreed the NSCs older than ten years would be destroyed. Retention for ten years was deemed appropriate for the purposes of checking an initial diagnosis.

The Minister, Deputy Reilly, requested the HSE to conduct a review of this decision. The review examined the legal and ethical basis for retention of NSCs and the potential use of the existing cards for research purposes. The report and recommendations of the review group were submitted to the Minister in January 2012. Having carefully considered the issue, the Minister accepted the recommendation of the review group, that in order to meet our legal and ethical obligations, particularly under the Data Protection Acts, newborn screening cards older than ten years should be destroyed. However, the Minister recognises the potential value of the material for research purposes, which was why the review group was tasked with exploring ways in which the material could be made available to the research community in a way that is compatible with our ethical and legal obligations.

The HSE will mount an information campaign offering members of the public the opportunity to have their screening cards returned to them, prior to any destruction of the cards taking place. This will ensure that people who wish to donate their or their children's NSCs to research will be afforded the opportunity to do so.

The Minister wishes to reassure the Deputy that the cards have been always stored in Temple Street Hospital and continue to be stored there. They have not been moved. The proposed course of action seeks to ensure public trust and a continued willingness to participate in the national newborn screening programme, a vital public health measure for children and their families. I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue.

Deputy Ann Phelan

I thank the Minister of State for that clarification on what is to happen. I am glad that parents will be written to asking them what they want to do with the cards. These cards contain extremely valuable information that has been collected for years. I would regard it as the forerunner to a volunteer database that could be very useful. I draw the attention of the House to the importance of keeping such samples. While I cannot give the exact detail, I recall that a number of years ago a very astute garda held on to samples from a murder scene because he believed that DNA evidence would at some stage be able to help solve crimes. His actions resulted in that crime being solved and led to a conviction. We need to be able to see beyond ten years and need to look much further into the future. I thank the Minister of State for her clarification.

Deputy Kathleen Lynch

I agree entirely with the Deputy. The issue is that we do not know the potential value of this material. We need to give people the opportunity to opt in or out. I believe most reasonable people will opt in on the basis that it has the potential to give us results to particular issues in the future that will benefit all of us.

Organised Crime

Deputy Willie O’Dea

The Minister of State will be aware that the Prison Officers Association, whose annual conference is taking place at the moment, has drawn attention to the difficulties caused by the activities of gangland figures in prison where they are replicating many of the activities in which they have been involved on the outside. This has very real consequences for the compliant prison population who are living in a climate of fear and for the victims of crime on the outside in the following way. I know of cases of compliant prisoners being compelled by threats to bring in drugs, weaponry and mobile phones. I am aware of cases where following threats against themselves and their families on the outside, they have been forced to secret some of these materials in their cells.

This climate of fear and intimidation is enabling people to be involved in crime while still in prison. They are enabled, particularly by the availability of mobile phones, to be able organise activities outside while they are supposed to be in prison. I know of cases where very serious crimes were committed up to and including murder, which were largely organised within prison walls.

Since many of these gangs are feuding with each other, segregation is now necessary in most prisons. At the moment nearly 400 prisoners are locked up for periods of up to 23 hours a day. More than 900 prisoners are in protective custody. Those numbers represent an enormous proportion of the prison population as a whole - possibly the highest in the world. These people need such special treatment because of the gangland situation inside the prison walls.

This has created enormous logistical problems for the prison staff. There is no single way of dealing with it; every chief officer is left to his or her own devices. It is an ad hoc system. As the representative of the Prison Officers’ Association said at its recent conference, this is both unsafe and unfair.

I am not raising this to gain political points. I mention it on behalf of families of prisoners who have come to me to say their family member, who simply wants to serve out his sentence, is being subjected to a campaign of intimidation, threats and terror and is living in daily fear of violent physical assault. I am also raising the issue on behalf of a number of prison officers, who tell me it is impossible in the present overcrowded conditions to organise the prisons properly. I am fully aware the current Minister is not the first who has presided over this situation, but due to the successes of the Garda, for which I congratulate it, there are now many more gangland figures behind prison walls, so the problem has grown in scale. I am aware of the statement by the representative of the Irish Prison Service today, but I must be conscious of what prison officers - the people who are trying to use the system on the ground - are saying, and I must be particularly conscious of what the families of prisoners are saying. I am aware of the Government's financial difficulties with regard to the provision of extra prison space and so on, but I ask the Minister of State to convey to her colleague that something needs to be done to alleviate those concerns.

Deputy Kathleen Lynch

I am conscious that I may not have time to read out the whole reply, but I agree this is an important issue and I thank the Deputy for raising it.

I am here on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, who unfortunately cannot be present, as he is attending a meeting of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg where his presence is required. I thank Deputy O'Dea for raising this matter and for the opportunity to speak on this important issue, which has been a topic of discussion already today. I can assure the Deputy that tackling serious and organised crime and bringing to justice those involved is a key priority for the Government. The implementation of specific operational measures to deal with criminal gangs and their activities is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. In this context, the Commissioner has stressed on many occasions that the necessary resources have been made available and will continue to be made available. The Minister has also made it clear to the Garda Commissioner that he is open to making additional changes to the law which the Garda believes would be helpful in tackling the activities of organised criminals.

The House will appreciate that the growth of organised criminal gangs outside prison has obvious consequences within the prison system itself. The manner in which these groups operate on the outside is now being mirrored on the inside. Rivalries and feuds which develop on the outside continue inside prison. Prison managements must ensure the various factions are kept apart and, as far as possible, that gang members do not have influence over other prisoners or criminal activities outside the prisons. Having attended the annual conference of the Prison Officers' Association earlier today, I am all too aware of the difficulties this causes for prison management and staff on a daily basis, as I heard it at first hand this morning. I listened carefully to what was said and heard about what can unfortunately happen, and I understand the difficulties for everyone involved. I also appreciate the efforts made by prison management and staff to deal with this issue on a daily basis. We all know and appreciate that theirs is a difficult job, and we must do all we can to support them. I am informed by the Minister for Justice and Equality that the management and staff of our prisons do an excellent job in this regard and act according to the intelligence and information acquired through the monitoring process. This may involve keeping different prisoners or groups of prisoners separate, moving prisoners from one location in the prison to another, or transferring them to another prison. All of this is part and parcel of the day-to-day business of running a prison system.

The problems associated with gangs are not unique to Ireland; prisons everywhere must deal with this issue every day. Unfortunately, Ireland is no different from anywhere else, but I assure the House that the Irish Prison Service has long been taking considerable steps to tackle and manage this issue, and has built up considerable experience in this regard. The House can be also assured that the director general of the Irish Prison Service will take whatever steps are necessary to deal with any problems that may arise. Much has been done already and much continues to be done.

A number of initiatives have been introduced with a view to preventing identified gang leaders from conducting criminal activities while in custody, and to prevent them from exerting inappropriate influence over others. The security initiatives undertaken by the operational security group, OSG, within the Irish Prison Service have made it more difficult for prisoners to engage in illegal activities while in prison. These initiatives include the introduction of passive and active drug detection dogs and the installation of airport-style security, including scanners and X-ray machines. The core functions of this group include gathering and collating intelligence information regarding the behaviour of criminal gang members in custody, carrying out intelligence-led searches and preventing the flow of contraband, including mobile phones, into prisons. In addition, there is regular contact between the Irish Prison Service and the Garda Síochána to discuss security issues, including the operation of criminal gangs. Gardaí are also provided with reports detailing the release dates of this category of prisoner. Furthermore, the risk management of offenders group within the Irish Prison Service, which is comprised of the governors of all closed prisons and the governor of the OSG, meet on a regular basis to share intelligence and to decide in a strategic and collaborative fashion on the placement of leading gang members across the prison estate, having regard to the associated protection issues. An unfortunate by-product of the gang culture in prisons is the increasing number of prisoners who need to be put on protection. However, it is also an indication of the steps taken to ensure prisoners are kept safe as well as secure within the system.

I thank the Deputy for providing me with an opportunity to address the House on this issue. On behalf of the Minister, I assure him that every effort will continue to be made to deal with this issue in our prisons. I can also assure him that the management and staff of the Irish Prison Service will have the full support of the Minister in taking all necessary steps to ensure this is done.

Deputy Willie O’Dea

I thank the Minister of State for her reply, and I understand why the Minister for Justice and Equality cannot be here. While I appreciate the work being done by prison staff and the experience they have built up, the Minister will understand that at the moment we are dealing with a particularly volatile situation. The prisons are crammed. I can understand the reason for that; I do not make any political point about it. For whatever reason, the prisons are full to bursting. In addition, there are now record numbers of gang members behind bars, and in Mountjoy Prison, one in every five prisoners is segregated or under some sort of protection, including 23-hour lock-up. Putting together those three factors, we have a combustible situation.

The Prison Officers' Association has recommended that an independent review be carried out to determine whether a cohesive approach can be taken. As the Minister of State is aware, the problem is being dealt with on an ad hoc basis; it is down to every prison officer or prison chief to handle each situation as he or she sees fit. I appreciate that there must be a certain amount of flexibility, but will the Government consider accepting the recommendation of the Prison Officers’ Association that an independent review be carried out to bring some cohesion to the management of these problems within the prisons?

Deputy Kathleen Lynch

There is a cohesive project in place which brings all prison governors together, and they meet regularly with the people who are charged with the security and management of the service. These prison officers are front-line staff; we can never dismiss what they tell us, and we will always have to take account of it. During my address today to the Prison Officers' Association, I announced that a new prison is to be built in Cork. Cork Prison, as people know, is grossly overcrowded. It is hoped the new prison will be up and running within the next two years. That will happen. There will be accommodation not only for the people who are already in that prison but also for additional numbers. In addition, the capital building programme in the area of justice has received significant additional moneys this year. As long as we are successful in incarcerating gangs, gang members and their leaders, we will have this problem. I accept what the POA has said and what the Deputy stated in regard to how we manage this situation. We must keep a very close eye on it. I agreed with the president of the POA today that I would convey to the Minister, Deputy Shatter, three of the association's demands, including for an ombudsman and for an independent monitor to examine how action might be better co-ordinated. I will do so.

Disadvantaged Status

Deputy Michelle Mulherin

I ask the Minister of State to reconsider the current position of Inver national school, afford DEIS status to the school and stop the existing discrimination against its pupils. From his educational data, the Minister of State will know well that this primary school is situated in an area of severe educational disadvantage that is thus designated. This position is supported by the INTO which has highlighted the challenges experienced on a daily basis on this account.

It is on the record that the process of identifying schools for participation in DEIS was managed by the Educational Research Centre on behalf of the Minister of State's Department. The identification process for qualifying schools was based on a survey sent out by the ERC in May 2005 which examined socio-economic conditions underpinning schools. The fact is that a completed survey form was never received from Inver national school, in spite of numerous communications to the school. As a result the school could not be assessed and, in consequence, it is not part of DEIS. Every other school in the Erris area has obtained DEIS status. Since 2005 some temporary supports were given in acknowledgment of the situation in which this school found itself but to date it has not been given the DEIS status it clearly deserves.

It is well-known to the Minister of State that the principal of the school at the time - and whosoever else was in charge - have done an unbelievable disservice to pupils and the community of Inver. The blame lies on whomsoever was in charge. The present position is due to the incompetence of this person and there is considerable distress within the school, among the teaching staff and the parents. Due to its exclusion, this school does not receive the same funding or book grant that every other primary school in the Erris area receives and it has been excluded from applying for certain grants such as for IT grants, etc. The school has already lost a teacher. The lack of DEIS status has also precluded the school from applying for community funding that was available.

I attach no blame of any kind to the Minister of State. I urge him, however, to treat this as a special case because it is one. Why should the pupils be left to pay the price because of the incompetence of an individual who had other things on her mind? There is no need for me to put the name of this person on the record of the House. She is well-known to the Minister of State and to the people in the community of Inver. I appeal to the Minister of State to make an allowance in this very special case. This community has suffered enough on account of local events in recent years. I ask him to please give the people a break.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Ciarán Cannon)

A key priority for my Department is to prioritise and target resources in schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. That challenge is significant given the current economic climate and the target to reduce overall public expenditure. This limits the capacity for any additionality in the DEIS programme.

The process of identifying schools for participation in DEIS was managed by the Educational Research Centre, ERC, on behalf of my Department and supported by quality assurance work co-ordinated through the Department's regional offices and the inspectorate. In the primary sector, the identification process was based on a survey carried out by the ERC in May 2005. The analysis of the survey returns from primary schools by the ERC identified the socio-economic variables that collectively best predict achievement. These variables were then used to identify schools for participation in DEIS. As the Deputy noted, notwithstanding repeated communications to the school referred to by the Deputy, a completed survey form was not received from the school in question and therefore it could not be assessed at the time for participation in DEIS.

Many representations have been made to my Department and to my predecessors by and on behalf of Inver national school, seeking its inclusion in DEIS. These representations were unsuccessful. It should be noted that none of those schools in the country which were unsuccessful in the initial identification and subsequent review processes were ever admitted to the DEIS programme.

Deputy Michelle Mulherin

I again ask the Minister of State not to add insult to injury to this community. In his response he referred to the incompetence within the school in returning a survey form. Every other small school in the area has DEIS status and this does not stack up. I do not believe we can stand over it.

I was disappointed that the school was not included in the review of DEIS schools. Above all others, this is a very special case and the Minister of State is aware of other details I have not mentioned. I ask him to speak to the Minister, Deputy Quinn. We cannot stand over this issue.

Deputy Ciarán Cannon

As all Members are aware, we are in a very difficult budgetary situation. Like every other Department, the Department of Education and Skills has to find significant savings. The Minister referred to these in the Chamber only a few days ago, stating that we had to achieve savings of the order of €70 million this year, another €70 million next year and more than €100 million in the final year of the period, 2014.

A third of all public sector employees work in this sector. Unlike many other countries, and fortunately, in one sense, for us, our school-going population is rising rapidly. The current economic climate and the challenge to meet significant targets and reduce that expenditure means there is no capacity at present to add to the DEIS programme. There are a number of schools which did not participate in the orginal survey in 2005. Others that were not part of the survey process have tried on numerous occasions since then to gain DEIS status. This was not possible at the time and is impossible at present. That is not to say that at some point in the future when things are better from a financial and fiscal point of view that we will not reopen the possibility of additionality to the DEIS programme. The only honest or frank position one can adopt at this point is to tell the school at Inver, and many others like it, that change of status is impossible now but may become possible at some point in the future.

Harbour Charges

Acting Chairman (Deputy Thomas P. Broughan)

Deputies Michael Healy-Rae, Martin Ferris and Brendan Griffin have two minutes each to speak on the issue of harbour fees.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving us this opportunity. I speak on behalf of Jimmy Flannery, Tom Hand and all the boatmen who try to make a modest living taking passengers out into Dingle Bay, in particular to see Fungie the dolphin. These people have provided a great service in our tourism sector throughout the years and people have enjoyed these trips.

At present, however, these people are struggling with the cost of diesel and the increased charges they already have to pay. I shall give an example of what the proposed new charges will mean. The fishing boat is exactly the same as the passenger boat. The proposed annual charges would mean a charge of €1,215 for a fishing boat but €6,290 for a passenger boat. We must make a clear distinction here today. These people are trying to make their living in what may be as little as a three or four week period whereas passenger boats in other parts of the country are not only subsidised but have all-year-round business. These people have a very short and narrow window of opportunity. If July or August is bad they may have a very bad season and end by losing money.

I spoke to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, in recent weeks about this matter. I plead with him to make a special category or section to ensure that these kind of boats will be recognised for what they do. I compliment the Government if it is trying to create new jobs in other sectors and wish it well in that work. I plead with the Government to look at the jobs we have and to try to help people continue in their work. This is a typical example. The people operating in Dingle do not want anything from anyone except fair play and to be left alone to make their living. I ask the Minister not to increase the harbour charges on these men and hunt them out of business and onto the dole queue. The Government should think about its mantra about jobs and change it slightly to protect the jobs we have. These people are minding their own business and providing an invaluable, safe service to those who visit County Kerry. I want them to be able to continue and, in the years after we leave this House, I want their families to continue the proud tradition of seeing after our visitors and taking them onto the sea in a safe and happy fashion. I plead with the Minister to help them out in this regard. I am relying on the Minister.

Deputy Brendan Griffin

I am grateful to speak on this matter with my colleagues from Kerry, Deputies Healy-Rae and Martin Ferris. I understand other Kerry Deputies have made representations to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Coveney, as I have. I have held meetings with a number of delegations in Dingle and they expressed concern at the Fishery Harbour Centres (Rates and Charges) Order 2012. This affects not just tour operators operating boats to see Fungi but also people who have yachts in the marina and commercial fishermen. All groups are concerned about potential increases in charges to use Dingle Harbour.

At a time when the State needs to do everything possible to assist business and those contributing to economic activity in the locality and creating employment, we should not increase fees. Some people are paying €2,000 and will potentially have to pay three or four times that amount. If we were to suggest to any business owner that rates could increase by that amount, we would be told where to go. I ask the Minister to consider carefully the submissions made to the Department before the deadline of 20 April. The Minister should carefully consider the submissions and not just go with the draft prepared by officials in his Department.

I thank the Minister for engaging with me on this matter. He gave me a commitment to examine this carefully. I hope he will come up with a common sense solution to this problem. The people who come to Dingle to see Fungi are dependent on the service, as are the fishermen and the yachts that come into Dingle. If the charges increase, we will jeopardise all three categories. Yachts will not come into Dingle, fishermen will find it impossible to operate and one of the oldest and most successful attractions in west Kerry will be jeopardised. I am not prepared to stand over that and I hope common sense will apply.

Deputy Martin Ferris

This is a co-ordinated approach by the three Kerry Deputies present to highlight a huge injustice. Dingle has traditionally been dependent on fishing and, in recent years, on passenger tourism through yachts and sailing boats coming to the area. The knock-on effect contributes greatly to the economy. In current circumstances, the major downturn in the economy is caused by a lack of spending power. In its stupidity, the Government is trying to take more money out of the community's pocket. It affects not just boat owners on their passenger boats but also the spending this generates through the number of people who travel out to see Fungi. That has been a huge tourist attraction on the west Kerry peninsula since 1994. This decision is taking spending power out of the community and, by doing so, putting more people on the live register. More are condemned to the scourge of emigration. A small amount of common sense is needed.

How can any Minister justify the increase from €2,000 or €2,400 to €8,000 or €9,000? It is an increase of 300% and will take €100 out of each boat every week. One must also bear in mind the major increase in fuel and diesel charges, the increase in insurance charges and the ancillary charges for water and refuse. The Government talks about creating jobs but if it is serious about maintaining jobs, it should revisit this decision. The 2003 order was reasonable. In hard times, the passenger boat people continue to work. There are very few commercial fishermen left in Dingle but they continue to work and they bring money to the local economy. It is ludicrous to take money out of a struggling economy.

Deputy Ciarán Cannon

I am responding to this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Simon Coveney. I am pleased to have the opportunity to deal with, and provide some clarity on, the concerns raised by Deputies Martin Ferris, Griffin and Healy-Rae. The Deputies referred to the draft new rates and charges order for the six fishery harbour centres. The recently published draft new rates and charges order sets out the first proposed changes in almost a decade to the fee schedule for the use of the facilities at each of the six fishery harbour centres, located at Dingle, Castletownbere, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Rossaveel. The draft was published following an extensive review of the existing rates and charges order for the fishery harbour centres that came into effect in 2003. The 21 day period for public consultation closed on Friday, 20 April. Some 85 submissions were made, of which six were from fishermen's representative groups, two from individual fishermen, 18 from the tourism and marine leisure sector, 12 from passenger vessel operators, one from a local authority, 15 from marine business interests in the fishery harbour centres, six from harbour users groups and islanders, and 25 from private individuals. This is a significant response from a wide range of stakeholders in our fishery harbour centres and the Minister is gratified to see the level of interest and commitment they represent.

The responses will be examined closely by the Department and all submissions will be given full consideration before the new order is finalised. It is important to stress the public consultation process provides a valuable opportunity for the Minister and the Department to hear and consider the concerns of our customers. No decision on the final text of the new rates and charges order will be taken until all submissions made by the stakeholders have been fully considered and evaluated.

It may be useful at this stage to explain the background to the funding mechanism involved in the day-to-day management of the six fishery harbour centres. The Fishery Harbour Centres Act 1968 sets out the mechanism to be employed in funding the day-to-day operational costs of the six fishery harbour centres. All income received at each of the six fishery harbour centres is effectively lodged to what is known as the fishery harbour centres fund. All the day-to-day running costs of each fishery harbour centre are in turn financed from the fishery harbour centres fund. It is the only source of income available to fund the day-to-day operational and management expenditure at the fishery harbour centres. Examples of regular expenditure include harbour master and staff salaries, electricity, lighting, water and fuel costs, cleaning and maintenance, etc. It is important to reiterate that all income lodged to the fishery harbour centres fund is invested directly in fishery harbour centres to the benefit of harbour users.

The rates and charges order is the legal instrument that enables charges to be levied that provide the income necessary for the provision of the various services at the fishery harbour centres. There have been no increases in rates and charges since the current charges were set almost ten years ago in 2003. I am fully aware of the need not to increase costs unduly for the industry at this time. At the same time it is important the proposed new rates and charges are set at a level sufficient to provide adequately for the costs involved while balancing the need to finance the management of the harbours with the needs of the various harbour customers.

I will highlight some of the features of the proposed new charges which were prepared in response to requests from industry. General fish landing tonnage charges set for all whitefish and fishmeal have not been increased in the draft order. A new single entry charge has been introduced as an alternative to the annual multiple entry charge structure in place since 2003. To facilitate operators, an alternative €400 single entry charge has been provided in the draft order. This new charge is to be available as an alternative, at the discretion of the operator, to the other annual multiple entry charge for fish landings outlined in the draft order. It is not an additional charge, as has been suggested by some, but is an alternative to facilitate operators who may find this more satisfactory for their operations. Charges for syncrolift use have been the subject of complaints from users for some time and in recognition of that, the charge for prolonged use has been halved, from €400 per day to €200 per day. Also to ensure the charge is fair, the Minister has introduced an exception to facilitate an inspection by a government body, for example, where a vessel is awaiting inspection by the Marine Survey Office.

The consultation process seeks to provide a platform to ensure as fair and equitable a levying of charges as is possible. The Department will, as I have said, consider all submissions made by the public and they are willing to meet with interested parties to discuss the draft rates and charges order, to provide any necessary clarification and to listen to and consider alternative suggestions to the individual charges included in the draft order. It is only then, when the Minister has reflected on all the matters raised in the consultation process that he will finalise a new rates and charges order for the harbours.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae

I want to take the Minister up on the offer of his officials meeting with representatives from Dingle as soon as possible to discuss their submission. At a time when they are struggling to manage their finances, we cannot impose increases. Their fuel bill is now double what it was a couple of years ago. How can they manage to pay more? They cannot do it. I will rely on the Minister as he is one of the few people in the House who would have sailed a boat into Dingle harbour on many occasions. He knows where he is talking about and I appreciate that. I hope common sense will apply and a special consideration will be made.

On the issue of the yachts, this problem could lead to a dangerous situation. People who might have pulled into Dingle harbour may now decide to stop away from the pier and use small pontoons to come in rather than come into the safety of the harbour. This could be dangerous. It should be remembered that it is better to get a small amount of money from people than to get no money or to stop them coming in altogether. That would rob our town of business. Also, further taxes would be accrued were people to spend money in the town. Dingle has worked very hard to get to where it is today. I do not want the Government to do anything that would pull Dingle down, cost jobs and money and take people out of viable valuable work and put them on the dole queues. We do not want that.

Deputy Brendan Griffin

I thank the Minister of State for his response and I welcome the commitment to ensure that all submissions will be closely examined and considered. As a resident of the Dingle peninsula, I know that the people who have made submissions will be grateful that they will be considered carefully and, hopefully, acted on.

I welcome some of the positive aspects of the draft plan and I acknowledge that progressive steps have been taken. Unfortunately, the charges are a major issue. It was one of the first issues I raised here following my election in April last year. I raised the issue that the existing charges were so high and that any further increase would be completely unacceptable. I too welcome the offer to arrange a meeting between officials and concerned parties from Dingle. I have contacted the Minister's office and asked him to meet with some of the individuals involved and hopefully that will happen.

This is a very important issue for the people of Dingle. It may not be a big issue in the overall scheme of things as far as the Department is concerned. However, it is very important in west Kerry. Fungi is a very important attraction in west Kerry. He does not have a voice for himself and we need to speak on his behalf. The fishing industry is hugely important to Dingle, as is the business generated from it and from yachts coming into Dingle. We need to protect that and to do everything possible to protect the jobs associated with it. I ask that everything possible is done to accommodate the requests and submissions made by the various parties.

Deputy Martin Ferris

I thank the Minister of State for his response. One only has to look at the number of submissions, 85, to get an indication of how seriously people view the situation in the Dingle and west Kerry peninsula area and further afield. The point made by Deputy Healy-Rae about boats anchoring outside the harbour and the dangers that presents should not be ignored. Even people with yachts now find things more difficult, because everybody is hurting at this point. I am glad Department officials will meet the local community and fishermen. That is a positive move and I welcome it. There is a role for us as public representatives to ensure that comes about.

On a lighter note, some years ago on 1 April a report was broadcast on the news that Fungi had been shot by someone from Dublin. If these charges go ahead, the Minister will be held responsible for getting rid of Fungi.

Deputy Ciarán Cannon

As Deputies may know, I come from a county that also relies heavily on its maritime tradition, one that brings many benefits to the local economy, and I am more than aware of the sensitivities that surround this issue in Kerry. My only participation in marine leisure activities has been as a windsurfer, but I do not envisage sailing into Dingle any time soon on my sail board. That would be a bit of a trek.

The Minister was very anxious to point out in his response that he is more than willing to consider seriously all of the submissions received and to meet with those who made those submissions in order to hear their concerns and suggestions as to how best the negative effects of the proposed charges can be ameliorated. I suggest that the Deputies begin that process of arranging a meeting and get the process of consultation under way. I am confident the outcome of those negotiations and discussions will be very positive.