Aideen Hayden (Labour)
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I welcome Ms Scott-Lennon to the committee. Like Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, I am delighted to see a woman in charge of such an important board. I have lived all my life in Dún Laoghaire, so I am well aware of her role as a pillar of the community. The Fitzpatrick's Castle Hotel is an excellent business and I have personal knowledge of it. It provides much needed employment and facilities in the Dún Laoghaire area. Moreover, that business has a great reputation of giving back to the community. Ms Scott-Lennon has shown a lot of commitment both through her management and ownership of the Fitzpatrick's Castle Hotel and also in her other role as a long-standing member of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company.

There is no doubt that she has the business experience needed for this role, as well as a deep knowledge of the Dún Laoghaire area. She also has wider board experience, such as her membership of Bord Fáilte, as it was known previously. That sits well with the task facing her as chairperson of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, once that position is confirmed by this committee.

I am particularly happy to see that she has had audit committee experience. Financial openness and transparency, particularly within statutory boards, is a key critical function and one that the chair of any board needs to have under their belt.

I turn now to Ms Scott-Lennon's presentation to this committee.

I could not agree more. Dún Laoghaire Harbour, as a leisure harbour close to Dublin, is a unique and beautiful location. As stated, it is one of the finest man-made harbours in the world. It has a hugely important tradition not only in the Dún Laoghaire area but in the history of the country. The number of people who emigrated from Ireland via the Carlisle pier, in particular to the United Kingdom, is well known nationally and internationally. I was delighted to take part in the one of the welcome home events of The Gathering held earlier this year to commemorate the number of people who cast their last farewell to the country via the Carlisle pier.

I have a number of questions relating to what has happened in Dún Laoghaire in terms of the run-down of the traditional ferry business and Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company's master plan, which is an impressive document and presents an exciting opportunity for the Dún Laoghaire area. I am pleased that the committee will receive further updates on the plan as it progresses. Like other particularly suburban areas, Dún Laoghaire has suffered very badly in the past years. The centre of Dún Laoghaire is very much like the centre of Arklow and any other number of towns in terms of the number of discount shops and empty premises therein. Only recently Marks & Spencers on the main street of Dún Laoghaire closed. There is no doubt there is a real issue in the area in terms of unemployment and business closures. The master plan presents an exciting opportunity for the area.

I have a number of specific questions for the witness. In terms of the lost Stena business, what was it worth to the area previously, what were the reasons for the decline in business and what is it worth now? There was a significant increase this summer in the number of cruise ships coming into Dún Laoghaire. It is a beautiful sight to see a cruise ship sitting on the waters. Is the chairperson designate happy that the Dún Laoghaire area and local businesses are benefiting from the increased number of cruise ships coming into Dún Laoghaire harbour? My own view is that the Stena business in terms of fees earned might have benefited the harbour board but it did not benefit the immediate local community in terms of business. Perhaps Ms Scott-Lennon would comment on what the cruise business as compared with the Stena business brings to the community in terms of employment opportunities. Also, does she have any views on what, aside from the construction of the larger docking station that will facilitate the cruise liners, can be done to ensure Dún Laoghaire and its hinterland benefit from this business?

I note from one of the longer term-----