Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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There are two broad points in relation to what Deputy Ó Cuív has said. First, he is absolutely wrong to describe this as a Bill of the status quo. He would only have to have been privy to some of the earlier debates between Deputy Boyd Barrett and me to say that this is anything but a Bill of the status quo. This is looking to take a serious view of the governance structures in place for all of our ports. It seeks to make decisions about them to give them all the best opportunity to be sustainable and successful in the future. Deputy Ó Cuív may well disagree, as he is entirely entitled to do, with the decisions that have been made, but to describe this as a Bill of the status quois plain wrong.

Second, the Deputy forecast the prospect of no port for the part of the country that he seeks to represent. I find that unbelievably pessimistic and, frankly, not a credible forecast. To forecast no port and then to seek to champion the cause of the same port is at best inconsistent. I, on the other hand, am confident that the ports we have will grow and find different ways to do so. In fact, Galway Port grew last year, notwithstanding which the Deputy is coming in here and forecasting that it will not exist in the future.

On the level of discussion that is under way and where the need has emerged, it is my understanding that discussions with Galway City Council are progressing in a very positive way. Due diligence is under way and I have met the port and Galway City Council to discuss this matter. The rationale for the change is coming from the fact that the integration of this port offers the prospect for it to be better integrated into the area in which it is located and to grow both as a port and as part of the city itself. That is why the change is being made.

On the TEN-T funding criteria, the Deputy is correct to say that the definition for TEN-T funding is not set by me but by bodies of the European Union which outline what a TEN-T port is and how such ports engage with each other. However, I suggest respectfully that it is at least reasonable to say that the past will be a factor in how things perform in the future. That is at least a reasonable stance to take. If we are looking to access funding or support for any port or part of national infrastructure, it is only reasonable that other parties will ask how it has performed in the past. It is a reasonable stance for people to take.

On the Deputy's request on the overall Bill, I will answer myself in writing any needs or requests for information that the Deputy has. It will not be from the Department. I will answer them before Report Stage so that we can perhaps outline to the Deputy in more depth the rationale for all of this. The decision that is being made in the Bill is being introduced by me as Minister and I am taking responsibility for it, as the Deputy would suggest. I have demonstrated and the Government has demonstrated our efforts to support different ports in different ways. On the point the Deputy made about Dublin Port, I find it as incredible as the claim that a port like Galway might not exist in the future. I find that quite a claim to make.