I thank the Chair for giving me permission to raise on the Adjournment this evening the subject matter of Question No. 15 of 3 February.
This matter is one of major importance not only to the people living on the north side of Dublin but to the population as a whole. Last week I tabled a question to the Minister for Transport asking him to state what is Government policy in relation to future harbour works orders for the reclamation of Dublin Bay. The Minister replied briefly that each application for a harbour works order in this respect will be examined on its merits and that a decision to either grant or refuse an application will be taken in the light of the requirements for the development of Dublin Port. He said that in arriving at any such decision he would take into account, in conjunction with the views of the Dublin Port and Docks Board, any representations made by interested parties.
The reason for my raising this matter is to refer to a commitment given by Fine Gael before the last election to the people of North-Central Dublin, that was, that no future harbour works orders would be granted on application. I am anxious to ascertain what the Government's future policy may be in relation to Dublin Bay. It would appear from the Minister's reply that individual applications will be examined on their merits. This would seem to indicate that the Government are reneging on the very firm commitment given to the people of Clontarf particularly before the last election. I have here a copy of a letter from Fine Gael to the Clontarf Residents' Association. It is signed by Seán O'Leary, National Director of Elections for Fine Gael and co-signed by Deputies Richard Bruton and George Birmingham. The letter concludes by confirming that in relation to the harbour works order Fine Gael policy is firmly against granting any order in the case of the LPG proposal.
Dublin Bay has been an issue for many years. Unfortunately, most of the amenities of the bay have been eroded in the past ten to 15 years. It will be accepted generally that the area concerned is not one that is used solely by the people of Clontarf, Raheny, Coolock or Sutton. It is used by people not only from all over Dublin but from all over the country. It is also a tourist attraction. There is a harbour works order with the Minister. The application in this respect was submitted more than two years ago. It relates to an application for the reclamation of 94 acres in Dublin Bay. The present controversy concerning the LPG issue is closely related to this because the site in that respect, an area of three-and-a-half to four acres, will be within that 94-acre site if the permission is granted by the Minister. I am sure the Minister appreciates how seriously the application is being viewed by the people of Clontarf especially.
We in Fianna Fáil are not only opposed to the LPG installation but to any further reclamation of the bay. Deputy Bruton will be fully aware of the concern in this matter. He will be aware of the various meetings that have taken place between public representatives and the various interested bodies. Both Deputy Haughey and I also gave firm commitments so far as further reclamation of Dublin Bay is concerned. We did so in the true spirit of not wishing to see the amenities being eroded further. We appreciate and accept that the harbour works order is a totally different matter from the LPG issue. Since that issue is the subject of a planning appeal, it would not be correct for me or for anybody else here to go into that aspect in great detail, but I must refer to it tonight because it will be part of the existing application for a harbour works order which, if granted, will house the LPG plant. If the application is not granted that will be the end of the matter of the LPG plant application.
The Minister must realise the vital importance and the relationship to each other of both issues. Having read the various reports from experts in relation to LPG installations we must agree that this is one of the most dangerous and sinister projects that could be situated in an area so closely located to houses, schools, factories, industrial estates, other oil installations and so on. There is total opposition to that project from the people of the area concerned. The democratic rights of those people must be recognised, but what concerns us greatly is that there was a firm commitment in the matter by both Fine Gael candidates before the election as well as by their director of elections, presumably after some negotiations had been entered into.
One of the most serious aspects of the LPG project is the recognition by the Dublin deputy fire chief that it could represent a very serious fire hazard to the area. In those circumstances he could not recommend acceptance of the application to Dublin City Council. The council in turn rejected the application, but it was granted subsequently by the city manager and it is now the subject of appeal. Having received commitments in the matter from the three main parties before the election the residents concerned considered themselves to be secure in the knowledge that there was no prospect of such a plant being built. It would seem from the Minister's reply that that is not the case. The Minister is still prepared to consider applications for harbour works orders on their individual merits and in individual circumstances.
This situation calls for a very clear explanation by the Government and by the Minister. The people in my constituency will want to know why the Minister is not prepared at this stage to confirm the pledge given by Fine Gael and Labour prior to the last election. I believe Deputies Bruton and G. Birmingham gave this commitment in good faith, and I have no reason to doubt it, but I had hoped they are not the victims of another ruse to gain votes at the expense of the ordinary citizen.
We are particularly concerned, apart from the LPG plant, that the amenities of Dublin Bay should be preserved. I do not think there is any other city of the size of Dublin which has the same facilities — beaches and so on located so closely to the city centre. It is a shame that these amenities have not been developed and it would be a disaster if further harbour works orders were granted and other parts of the bay were reclaimed and these amenities cancelled.
As I said at the outset, this issue is not only a local one, affecting approximately 50,000 people living in nearby residential areas, but is an issue of great national importance. In our opinion the bay can be developed to benefit not only the citizens of Dublin and the nation as a whole but it can be of great advantage to the tourist industry. Let us not destroy what we have left of this amenity. Let the Government come out clearly and confirm the undertaking given to the people in Clontarf prior to the last election. I hope the Minister of State will remove any doubts that the Government are having second thoughts on this issue.
