andMr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Transport if in view of the very heavy commitments of public funds, he will instruct the B & I Company to use the Ringaskiddy terminal as that company indicated they would do from 1 June 1982.
Private Notice Question. - B & I Cork Terminal.
Mr. B. Allen, Mr. P. Barry, Mr. Corr
I understand that the conditions governing the use of the terminal at Ringaskiddy by B & I are at present under discussion between that company and Cork Harbour Commissioners.
I consider that the matter at issue is best left to be resolved by negotiation and agreement between the two parties directly involved and, in my view, any intervention by me at this stage would not be appropriate.
Is the Minister aware that B & I have already indicated to Cork Harbour Commissioners that they will not be using the terminal. The discussions are over.
I do not know what the Deputy is basing his view on. The actual position is that the discussions are not over, that B & I have not made a decision, as was suggested in a newspaper this morning——
In The Cork Examiner. There is nothing vulgar about those words.
That information is incorrect. The statement I have made is correct. A decision in this matter has not been made. The discussions are continuing in relation to a number of aspects, including the manpower question at the terminal.
Are they continuing in relation to the number of sailings per week, for instance?
The sailings per week in the present season have been reduced, as the Deputy will be aware, to three round trips, all year round. There had been a peak of seven in previous years. I assume it would be on this basis that discussions are taking place.
Why have the sailings not been increased to seven per week as was promised by Fianna Fáil before the last general election?
The Deputy will be aware that B & I have been endeavouring to maintain a service there notwithstanding considerable losses in recent years. They are maintaining a service and paying dues to Cork Harbour Commissioners at Tivoli. We hope these discussions will be concluded shortly in relation to the Ringaskiddy berth.
That is not the question I asked. I asked the Minister why the number of sailings has not been increased as was promised by his party during the general election.
It is fairly clear that if our party had not been returned to office there might be no sailings from that harbour today.
Does the Minister not agree that in the last general election his party undertook to increase from three the number of sailings by B & I out of Cork? Is he now reneging on that promise?
The Government will consider and review the position of that service, bearing in mind its value to the hinterland of the port and its contribution to tourism.
Does the Minister agree that unless the sailings are increased during the summer they will not be increased at all, and the summer season begins next weekend? Is the Minister reneging on the promise——
This is developing into an argument.
It has to because the Minister will not answer my question. Will the Minister give a simple answer?
The service has been maintained from Tivoli. The number of sailings which are warranted will be kept under review.
Fianna Fáil's experience yesterday should teach them the stupidity of making promises and not keeping them. They will find a similar result in Cork.
It hardly befits the Deputy to refer to matters of yesterday and to promises, because the state in which the Deputy left matters concerning PRSI, etc. early this year reflect no credit on the Deputy or his party.
Will the Minister increase the number of sailings?
Because of the uncertainty of the situation in Cork would the Minister give a guarantee that Ringaskiddy will be used by B & I as a terminal?
If that becomes necessary I shall ask the Minister to consider it. The use of the terminal by B & I is a matter for negotiation between themselves and the Cork Harbour Commissioners, not only in regard to rates but the number of sailings and other matters, like manning levels. They are using another terminal in that harbour at the moment. It is a matter for the board to negotiate the terms.
Why did you make the promise?