Mr. Paul Clegg:

I am pleased to attend the joint committee in my capacity as acting chief executive officer of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority. I was appointed to my position on 27 March on secondment from Dublin City Council. I am accompanied by Mr. John Crawley, financial adviser to the authority. We will address the committee on the general scheme of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2014 which the authority welcomes. Last week we submitted to the committee our opening statement to which I will make a very brief reference.

On 31 May 2012, when the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, announced the Government's intention to dissolve the authority, he envisaged that it would remain in place for a transitional period in order to wind up its existing operations, prepare the transition to new arrangements and make recommendations to him on appropriate structures for the future. My remit as acting chief executive officer is to complete the winding up and transition process. As outlined in the written submission, matters in this regard are well advanced and on track. Issues are being addressed prior to finalisation of the winding up of the authority. They include completion of a small number of remaining asset sales, including interest in subsidiaries and joint ventures; discharging the authority's remaining liabilities; dealing with and resolving, where possible, current litigation matters involving the authority; the formal transfer of infrastructure and certain assets to Dublin City Council; completion of final statutory accounts and the transfer of books and records intrastate. I am satisfied that substantial progress has been made in all of the areas listed and that the remaining issues can be addressed in the coming weeks.

As part of its remit, the authority has made recommendations to the Minister regarding the creation of a strategic development zone, SDZ, by Dublin City Council and this matter is awaiting a determination by An Bord Pleanála. The authority also mandated the Docklands Council to consider an appropriate consultative structure to be formed following the dissolution of the authority. The council's recommended structure for such a consultative framework is supported by the authority. This structure is proposed in head 6 of the draft Bill.

The Docklands Council also submitted a report to Dublin City Council in October 2013, outlining its priorities from the authority's 2008 master plan which the city council might consider for inclusion in any future policy framework for the wider 520 ha docklands area. The authority understands Dublin City Council is proceeding to prepare a separate dedicated chapter in the current city development plan specifically centred on the docklands area.

I thank the committee for the invitation to attend the meeting to discuss the general scheme of the Bill. Mr. Crawley and I will be happy to answer members' questions.