Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I wish to share time with Deputy Blaney.

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. It is always a demanding exercise to follow the previous speaker on any subject, but my knowledge of Bantry Bay and Cork Port is not as strong as his. It is a long time since I visited the area but I recall looking at the wonderful natural beauty of Crosshaven from Camden Fort. In three years we will commemorate the terrible tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic, which sailed from Cork harbour.

When I told other Members I was contributing to this debate, they wondered what I might have to say about Tallaght. However, when I contributed to the debate on the fisheries Bill, I reminded the House that I eat fish. I visit harbours and it is important to take an interest in these issues. We should not be categorised and I do not claim to be an expert on anything but I have an interest in the natural beauty of our country.

I refer to a link I can make to Tallaght. The Square opened there 19 years ago and one of the initiatives management took over the years to attract visitors from the UK and, in particular, Wales was to promote the Stena Line ferry crossing between Holyhead and Dún Laoighaire, with passengers being transported to Tallaght through the city by bus. In these bleak and challenging economic times, we should be innovative as much as possible in job creation. If jobs can be created in tourism and related industries, we should do that. The lack of a second Stena Line daily sailing is an issue in my constituency and this could be examined and highlighted in the context of the Bill. I expect my colleagues, the Minister, Deupty Mary Hanafin, and the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, would want us all to support that. I hope Members will do so, as it is of concern and interest to people in my constituency.

The Bill is considered necessary to give effect to aspects of the Government's policy set out in the ports policy statement launched in January 2005. It complements the commercial ethos given to the ten port companies by the Harbours Act 1996. Among the principal objectives of the Bill is the provision for the transfer of functions from the Minister for Transport to An Bord Pleanála in the context of the compulsory acquisition of land by port companies. The Harbours Act 1996 provides that port companies have regard to any relevant Government policy or guidelines on the acquisition of land. It is considered appropriate in the interests of consistency and best practice that the provision should apply also to the disposal of land by such companies. The number of directors on a port company board is being reduced from 12 to eight. The statutory representation of local authority directors on boards will cease and the number of employee directors will be set at one per company. It is also proposed to cease the practice of appointing port users to port company boards to avoid any potential conflicts of interest. I suspect that change will be welcomed.

The Attorney General has advised that there are not sufficient principles and policies in the 1996 Act to allow for future alteration of the harbour limits. An amendment is considered necessary to address that issue. The Bill makes provision for a clear legislative basis to underpin investment by port companies outside the current harbour limits. The amendment is considered necessary to facilitate the development and successful completion of proposals relating to investment by port companies outside existing harbour limits and outside the State.

The provision for widening the borrowing powers of certain companies to facilitate port capacity expansion is also included. The Bill also amends a number of provisions relating to pilotage. It also introduces an enabling provision to allow for the potential transfer of Bantry Bay Harbour Commissioners and Tralee and Fenit Pier and Harbour Commissioners to relevant port company control in line with the Government's ports policy statement. I already made reference to Deputy Sheehan so I will not rise him any further. He has expressed views on the latter issue and I expect the Minister will take account of that.

I should have said at the outset that I welcome the attendance in the Chamber of the new Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Áine Brady. She is a former neighbour on my corridor. I wish her well. Her appointment is a progressive one and I hope she does well.

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