asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that the Waterford Harbour Board conducts all its business in private, publishes no accounts, and is not responsible to or controlled by any public authority, whether he has any powers, in relation to increases in charges or otherwise, which would enable him to insist on a change in the government of the Port, and, if not, whether it is proposed to take steps to secure those powers.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - WATERFORD HARBOUR BOARD.
The Waterford Harbour Commissioners are constituted by the Waterford Harbour Act of 1846 as amended by the Waterford Harbour Act of 1919. Under those Acts I am empowered to require a copy of the Annual Accounts, and these have duly been delivered for each year up to the 31st December, 1922. I am also empowered to vary the rates leviable by the Commissioners. The Act of 1846 provides that the Accounts of the Commissioners shall be published in one or more of the newspapers published in the City of Waterford; but the enforcement of this obligation is not a matter for my Department. I have no further powers in the case of these Commissioners and no further information as to their proceedings. The whole position of Harbour and Port Authorities in the Saorstát, all of which function under their own private Acts, is being considered.