Vol. 442 No. 2
133 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the commitments given to the Government, or to B & I workers by the Government, at the time of the privatisation of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter in view of the concerns of the workers who see their jobs being lost due to the abandonment of the traditional routes, services and ports used/operated by the company.
The sale of B & I Line to the Irish Continental Group plc was the subject of a share purchase agreement, the contents of which cannot be disclosed for reasons of commercial confidentiality.
During Committee Stage of the B & I Line Bill, 1991, the Minister for Tourism Transport and Communications informed the House that his Department had signed an agreement with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the B & I unions on matters relating to the sale of B & I to Irish Continental Group. He placed that agreement on the record of the House on 17 December 1991, Official Report volume 414, No. 8, columns 1681-83.
Statutory responsibility for shipping matters, including the registration of vessels, matters relating to the crewing of vessels and ports policy, rests with the Minister for the Marine.
