Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has said that the amendment I proposed pre-empts his decision and I fully accept this to be the case. It asks him to make the decision by the time the Houses complete their consideration of the Bill. It is in the Minister's power to make the decision but this matter has been debated at length for a long time. We have conducted extensive engagement at some of the biggest public meetings in recent times in Dún Laoghaire, so I believe I speak for a majority of stakeholders and for the public on this matter. There is an unprecedented number of submissions to the planning authorities regarding developments for the harbour. The people of Dún Laoghaire and harbour stakeholders of all shapes and sizes are very engaged with the process and have pretty much definitively expressed their views about where they want this to go. We are asking the Government, by this amendment, to make the decision as part of the Bill because it has gone on for too long. Perhaps the Minister would indicate the schedule for completion of Committee Stage. Will it be next week or the week after and when will it proceed to Report Stage? I wish to underline the fact that the inspector from An Bord Pleanála, and indeed anybody who has to make any decision about Dún Laoghaire, is in a kind of limbo at present. I would not be surprised if An Bord Pleanála delayed making a decision about the cruise berths until the legislative framework for the harbour is set and the relationship between the town and the harbour is established.

People are operating in a vacuum. They have been aware for some time that a decision is due but it has not been made. Although the legislation has been introduced, it does not make a decision. If the Minister will not accept the amendment or make the decision as part of the Bill, which the amendment seeks to do, could he indicate approximately when the decision will be made as it has a bearing?