Vol. 414 No. 4
6 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for the Marine if he will outline the terms of reference under which the harbour review group in his Department is examining the Shannon Estuary; the date on which the study was commissioned; the date on which the findings are due to be presented; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
33 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine whether he has any proposals to review harbour boards; and, if so, if he will outline his proposals for change.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 33 together.
I established the Review Group on Commercial Harbours and Pilotage Policy and Legislation on 17 October 1990. The task of the review group is to identify those aspects of existing legislation which need updating and to make recommendations regarding a revised legislative code and policy for commercial ports ad pilotage. The group will identify those aspects of existing legislation which constrain a modern port; the present structure of harbour boards needs to be examined as does the extent of ministerial and departmental control on day-to-day activities of ports. As part of that review, I would expect that they will consider the issue of the appropriate management of harbours in the Shannon Estuary where there are currently three authorities, Limerick, Foynes and Cappa Pier at Kilrush.
I am advised that the group is making good progress and hopes to be in a position to present its report to me early in 1992.
May I remind the Minister that the Second Stage of a Bill to set up a Shannon estuarial authority was discussed in the House in 1987 and, again, in 1989 prior to the dissolution of the Government on both occasions? Is he now saying, effectively, that those Bills were misdirected or inadequate and that the Government are not in a position to move ahead with those Bills until the review body reports?
There is no implication about the quality of the proposed legislation. I am simply saying that this legislation will have to fit into the scene when I come to take a view of the whole country. I have set up this high-powered committee to examine the matter. I should say also that the authorities in the various areas warmly welcomed my decision to do so because they think the legislation in both areas, pilotage and harbours, is outdated.
While the authorities may have warmly welcomed the decision to establish this high-powered committee, as the Minister described it, we will have to await their reaction to the committee's conclusions. While the Minister is aware that numerous reports have been commissioned in relation to the Shannon Estuary and the potential for the development of the deep sea harbour there, is he aware that Shannon Development commissioned extensive reports on this area which is described as having the best potential for the development of a deep sea harbour? Numerous deep sea harbours in this country have not been developed in recent years and most people are blaming the Government for this primarily because they have failed to introduce the legislation promised in this House on a number of occasions. Are we likely to see this legislation in the lifetime of this Government?
With reference to the study on the integrated development of the Shannon Estuary, as the Deputy is aware, that study was commissioned by the Government and undertaken by SFADCo. The Minister for Industry and Commerce is the person to whom he will have to address any question with regard to developments arising from that study.
