Today we will consider the draft reports on fishery harbour centres and the wards of court. First, we shall deal with report on fishery harbour centres. Does anybody have any comments on the draft report that was circulated a few days ago?
Fishery Harbour Centres: Committee Report
The draft report was very useful. On page 14, item 6, there is reference to the position in Howth. A lot of us went out to Howth. I would have thought that more space, in the report, should be given to the visit we made to Howth on that day. We should big it up a bit and list some of the other things we found, particularly the fact that a lot of the buildings that were vacant have been vacant for very long periods. Maybe we could also set out examples. Some of them have been vacant for 30 years or something like it. Can we expand on that particular paragraph?
Clerk to the Committee
Yes, that is fine.
I received an e-mail this morning and I am sure it has been circulated to everybody else. It reads:
Apologies for the late e-mail. Having read the transcript of the last meeting of the PAC regarding Howth Fisheries Harbour, I note that you seem surprised by the number of vessels using the repair yard. Please be aware that the number was three times this just a few short years ago. While the Dept. of Marine are quite happy to pat themselves on the back and say how well the yard is functioning the figures below speak otherwise. The decline in numbers is down to one simple fact - there are no repair facilities for vessels using the yard.
That view might be reflected in the report. I refer to the fact that there are no repair facilities, and that the number of vessels has dropped from three times the number over a couple of years. I shall circulate the email and perhaps we might include its substance in the report.
When this report is finalised - which it will be and in a few days presumably - will it be laid in the Oireachtas Library and go to the Department?
Clerk to the Committee
Yes.
I will give my two cents. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, about this matter. I would like to achieve something with the work that has been done. We are very close to achieving some kind of positive negotiation with regard to the Department as to how to move on from this matter. My fear is that if we issue the report, stick it in the Oireachtas Library and publish it that it will be forgotten about. It is fair to say that although the Department might not agree with some of the things in the report, it is willing to deal with some of the substance of issues that we have pointed out. It has been doing so, has begun to do so and is probably the first Administration to do so. The Department has pointed out that it inherited this problem from the natural resources side. The kernel of the situation, or a lot of it, stems from the desperate or terrible handover of the accounts to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
I suggest that before we place the report in the Oireachtas Library, and think about publishing it officially, we ask the Department to deal with some of the substantive points that we have made, particularly the arbitration process that we have suggested. I suggest it comes back to us within a couple of weeks and we can see if we can find some common ground before we publish the report. It might be sensible for us to do so. We have put considerable work into the report. My fear is that we will lose the benefit of that work if we issue the report without giving the Department a chance to respond to it beforehand. I get a feeling that it is willing to engage on some of the points made in the report. I suggest that before we issue the report we give the Department a couple of weeks to respond to the issues that we have raised in the report. Does that seem reasonable?
Yes, it is a good idea. The suggestion will put the Department under more pressure than throwing the report in the Oireachtas Library and saying "read it if you want to". My principal interest is Howth. If we can put it to the Department and ask what it is doing about the matter then it can come back to us with a response. It is a good idea. Is it being suggested that we seek a response from the Department before publishing the report?
Yes.
Yes. As long as the process does not go on too long.
Clerk to the Committee
No, we shall give it a little time.
There is an indication within the report that the matters that we have dealt with, and have been dealing with for the past couple of months, are being dealt with finally in the Department. For example, the work has been done on putting together of the register of assets that will determine definitively what the Department owns, and what it does not own. We can find out, definitively, how far the Department has got with that work. We will give them a couple of weeks to compile a progress report for us.
It was suggested a plan should be drawn up as to how to maximise the issues that have been raised here. What has been mentioned is the valuable assets, the dereliction in certain areas, the lack of repair facilities, the lack of the optimisation and maximisation of what the port has to offer. It does seem that this matter is not something to be left aside and walked away from; it is something that should be an ongoing process and one that we can return to. That consideration should be built into the manner in which we dealt with the report.
I wish to make a quick point before bringing in Deputy Perry. My take is as follows. Down through the years, and I have seen it happen in Dunmore East which is located in my constituency, there has been a lack of engagement with the people who use and want to use the ports. That situation needs to improve. The primary issue is to improve that level of engagement. If we can improve that kind of communication and interaction then we will have achieved something. We have an opportunity to do so. I call Deputy Perry.
I agree with the Vice Chairman's policy. Too many reports have been published only to be placed in the Oireachtas Library. It is a very intelligent idea to discuss what can be achieved from the report. There is immense potential for tourism in activities related to fisheries, including marinas and the development of leisure facilities. Activity sport is the largest growing business in the country. Having done all the work we should bring the report back here to see what actions will be taken. It is a precedent which should be set for reports.
What timeline should we have? Two or three weeks?
Clerk to the Committee
We can come back to the committee with the report in three weeks time.