Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 May 2005

Vol. 180 No. 7

Port Development.

Mr. Finucane

I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Gallagher, for taking this Adjournment matter. On 5 April, Limerick County Council received a planning application from Shannon Foynes Port Company for the reclamation of 0.9 hectares and the replacement of the public slipway. The port company enraged the local community when it decided to block off the public slipway with boulders on 15 April. I received a telephone call notifying me of this action on the part of the company. I went to Foynes and saw what it had done.

As a native of Foynes whose late father and whose relatives were synonymous with the development of the port, I was also annoyed by the port company's actions. I subsequently contacted the Department of Communications, Marine, and Natural Resources and informed it of developments. On 18 April, the coastal zone management division wrote to Limerick County Council informing it of its concerns. The letter stated, "In the circumstances, the Department considers that it would be inappropriate for the council to consider any application from the company in respect of the proposed developments on State-owned foreshore." Surely the port company resolved the issue of a foreshore licence before applying for planning permission.

On 3 May 2005, the port company withdrew its planning application. Not only had the Department expressed its objections but there were also objections from within the community, with further objections to follow. Rather than accepting the inevitability of the withdrawal of the planning application, the chief executive, on behalf of the port company, issued an inflammatory statement preceding the public meeting held on 3 May. It states: "The company has no option but to assume that the community has decided that the port activities of the company are unwelcome at Foynes". It also states: "The company has learned of a co-ordinated movement towards objecting to developments at Foynes Port in County Limerick". These are disgraceful statements about a community that has been very tolerant over the years and which has shown much good will towards the port company.

Rather than criticising the community, the chief executive should concede that the approach adopted was totally wrong. I ask the Minister of State to issue an instruction to the chief executive and his board to have proper discussions with the local community in Foynes on the various port-related issues that have arisen. This would be important to ensure that the community and port company can act in harmony for the betterment of Foynes.

I thank the officials in the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to whom I spoke on a few occasions about this issue. They were most helpful and appeared to be annoyed at the problems in Foynes.

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Gallagher)

I thank Senator Finucane for raising this issue. Shannon-Foynes Port Company applied to my Department on 5 April under the Foreshores Acts for permission to reclaim 0.9 hectares of a small harbour at West Quay in Foynes to facilitate the temporary storage of containers. I am not aware of any application to Limerick County Council.

This proposed development would have impacted on an existing public slipway adjacent to the N69 road. Consequently, the company's application included a proposal to construct a new slipway at the north-western corner of the harbour to accommodate existing users. Consultants acting for the port company contacted the Department earlier this week, indicating that the port company was withdrawing its application. The company gave no reason for that decision and did not indicate how it proposes to proceed in this matter.

Any further application the company may wish to make in respect of this proposal would fall to be considered in the normal way under the Foreshore Acts. I am obliged to ensure that any application must meet the criteria of the Acts and follow that normal practice. This would involve, among other things, the giving of public notice of the application by way of a newspaper advertisement, so that all interested persons or bodies would have an opportunity to inspect the proposals and comment on them.

Senator Finucane quoted the statement by the company but unfortunately I cannot be responsible for the statements of all those under our control but I note what he said. I assure the Senator that all relevant issues and concerns will be fully considered before a decision is made on any further application from the company. I appreciate his reference to the importance of engagement with all interested parties and the necessity for good will.

I thank the Senator for his kind comments about the information acquired from officials in my Department and shall pass on his comments to them. The information is in the public domain. Now that the application has been withdrawn we must wait and see if there is a further application and whether it complies with legislation.

I thank the Senator for raising the issue. It may not be the last time this matter is raised but I shall be happy to return to the House to answer any questions.

Mr. Finucane

Will the Minister of State speak to the appropriate officials in the Department? The meeting last night was stormy but ended on a constructive note. The community wants to meet the harbour board and discuss its concerns. I seek only a constructive approach from the port company. The Minister of State's reply has offered some reassurance on this point. Will he ask his officials, as a matter of good neighbourliness and citizenship, to speak to the community about these issues and to meet them with a constructive attitude?

Mr. Gallagher

I will speak with the officials in the Department. I made a general comment on leases. Apart from complying with the criteria and conditions in the legislation, it is important to engage with parties affected by any such development whether in Foynes or elsewhere. Good will is important.

The Seanad adjourned at 7.45 p.m. until10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 5 May 2005.