Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 June 2016
643. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the transfer of ownership of Dún Laoghaire Harbour from Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company to the local authority; if he prefers a shareholding option or a total transfer to the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14776/16]
View answerThe Harbours Act 2015 provides the legislative basis for one of the national ports policy's key recommendations, namely that governance of the five designated ports of regional significance should vest in more appropriate local authority led governance structures.
The Act does not prescribe the model of transfer for any of the five ports, including the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company. Instead the Act allows for the most appropriate model of governance to be chosen in respect of each individual company. The two possible models of transfer provided in the Bill are:
1. Retention of the existing company structure and transfer of the Ministerial shareholding in the company to the local authority; or
2. Dissolution of the existing company structure and transfer of all assets, liabilities and employees into local authority structures, where the port will be administered as a functional area of the local authority.
The manner of transfer selected in each case will be the one that finds broad consensus and agreement between the parties. If there is disagreement between the port company and the council over the model of transfer, then the final decision as to the model chosen will be mine as Minister.
Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have established two transitional teams which are engaging on the practical issues associated with the transfer and consultants have been appointed by the council to undertake the due diligence process. The procurement and management of the due diligence process is a matter for the Council, and I understand that the process is now well advanced. This exercise is intended to assist in the decision as to the most suitable model of transfer.
Officials from my Department also met with Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council on a number of occasions to assist in the process.
