Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

There are currently nine different Departments with a toe in the marine sector. It is not the best way to run that sector. Deputy Dooley spoke about critical infrastructure and mentioned a bridge. When he went over his time allocation, I thought he had strayed over to speak on behalf of the Opposition, as that is what we have been saying for so long.

Like every other Deputy, I must focus on amendment No. 17, which will have major implications for the future development of Arklow Port. Why is this amendment being included to address the situation directly at Arklow? It is basically because there is not enough commercial activity taking place, which justifies the downgrading of the port. Will the Government let an ancient thriving port go to the wall, purely due to a lack of interest? It is true that the level of activity has decreased, and the RNLI lifeboat has had to move from one side of the pier to the other because there is sand silted in the harbour that does not allow it get in and out safely. This is an example of inertia and an unwillingness to address a critical piece of infrastructure for the marine sector, as it has been left there to hang for so long.

The dredging of the harbour has been held up for ten years, while the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government determines how to dispose the contaminants from the mine further up the Avoca River. Commercial traffic involving fishing, the fertiliser business, marine transport and boat building have all but ceased for one reason or another. The ancient tradition of fishing out of Arklow has been gutted by reductions in quotas for east coast boats. Tyrells boat builders operated since the last century and built the recently ill fated Asgard in 1981, and this represented a tradition and expertise that is being lost. Arklow Shipping, a very successful shipping company, is now based in Holland, even though it still has an office Arklow.

The marine tradition in Arklow still lives on. The commissioners have been developing the harbour and docks for the 21st century, including facilities for marine leisure and support facilities for the new wind farm on the Arklow bank, which is expected to grow when access to the grid is accommodated and newer wind turbines become available. The new low VAT rates for shipping companies is a positive incentive for investment.

Why is there no commercial traffic through the port? There has been a ten year delay in the dredging programme due to new disposal rules that have resulted in part of the harbour being silted. Port business had to be turned away, so it is not that it is not available. Negotiations with the Marine Institute are at an advanced stage and we hope that a new licence to dredge is soon to be issued. The last time it was issued was August 1986 when Hurricane Charlie cleaned it out. Another hurricane like that would take care of the problem.

A 16 year court case concerning the siting of a new sewage works for the town has resulted in development programmes and inward investment being stalled. This matter remains unresolved and on appeal to the Supreme Court. While I appreciate it commenced prior to the enactment of the Critical Infrastructure Act 2006, it being in limbo means Arklow remains in limbo until such time as the matter is sorted out.

What is needed is not, as provided in section 17, the transfer of the harbour commissioners to the local authority - a local authority already strapped for cash and that does not have the wherewithal, interest or money to come up with a plan to redevelop that port - but a ten year plan for development; investment incentives for port and marine services; port and quay access road improvement; an annual dredging programme; and a water treatment plant. A question arises as to why this port has not been designated a commercial port.

The Government is silent on small port management, coastal zone management of recreational activities and other marine activities despite the great potential of every coastal region and harbour to provide economic activity and jobs. I say this in light of the fact that Arklow is perhaps the blackest spot in Wicklow in terms of unemployment, with long-term companies such as Allergan, the IFI and AirGas having left the region. Arklow has great potential. There have been mootings from Cement Roadstone Holdings, CRH, that it is interested in developing the port facilities in Arklow. This would allow the existing port to once again become a fishing and tourist port and a services port for the windfarm project. Why is this not happening? I referred earlier to inertia.

The last move by Minister of State, Deputy Tony Killeen, was the establishment a co-ordinating group which included the Departments of Transport; Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Defence; the Environment, Heritage and Local Government; Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs; Arts, Sports and Tourism; and the Taoiseach. We are a country surrounded by water whose first occupants came here by boat. Why is it that nine Departments are required to determine what is best for our ports and harbours? There is no Department or Minister responsible for co-ordinating Government policy on the management of the marine sector despite the coast and oceans being one of Ireland's key natural resources amounting to 220 million acres.

The Marine Institute headquarters in Galway - Deputy Ciarán Cuffe will be aware of this - has on display in its offices a real map of Ireland on which it is difficult to determine the land mass, approximately 97% of which is considered a resource covered by water. We have some of the greatest potential to monitor future trends in climate, in ocean current and weather changes. Also, we have the greatest potential - I have stated this in other contexts - to develop sustainable renewable ocean, wind and tidal energy around the coast of the country, yet no Department has overall responsibility for this matter. Instead, the matter is left to nine Departments that must come up with a plan that suits everybody and works for nobody.

I appeal to the Government, whenever the next reshuffle takes place, to create a full Ministry for the marine, which we had before and which was effective. This requires political will. The Government appears unwilling to take the lead on marine affairs and is content to let the political will drown in multi-departmental co-ordinated talk shops. The Department of Transport is willing to let Arklow port go without a fight despite the fact that the port has the best potential for economic development in the region. Tasks forces are to be set up everywhere jobs are lost. It would be more beneficial if audits were undertaken of the potential for job creation in these regions, taking into account what we have by way of natural resources.

I will be opposing section 17 which proposes to allow the Arklow harbour commissioners to be transferred to Wicklow County Council. I appeal to the Minister to respond positively on this matter. I hope the Minister will see merit in my argument, thus meaning I will not have to table an amendment in this regard. Rationalisation is fine, but rationalisation which seeks to transfer the remit of one authority to another, a move that will sound its death knell and destroy any chance it has of creating employment, is not forward thinking. It is not the type of thinking we need in the current economic climate. We have the potential to develop places like Arklow harbour and port.

As I stated earlier, Airtricity's windfarm at Arklow Bank is to be developed and will require servicing and a host port. The nearest port by far is Arklow harbour. The Arklow life boat plays a critical role and function in this area. It is one of the busiest sea lanes along the Irish Channel. I ask that the Minister reconsider any proposals to downgrade this critical port.

The Bill, as passed by the Seanad states: "...to carry out policy, as may be specified by that Minister,...". Does this mean it is envisaged that this role and function will be removed from the Minister for Transport and that, as a result of the new talking shop of the Minister of State, Deputy Tony Killeen, some other Minister will be assigned the role? Can we live in hope and assume a Minister for the marine will eventually be appointed?

While the provisions relating to workers do not relate to harbour commissioners, the proposal that staff representation be confined to one regardless of the size of an authority or company is one that appears to have worked in the past. I wonder why it is necessary to introduce this measure? Is it that the Minister is on the one hand trying to completely control the companies while on the other giving them power to determine their own future and is setting them up in a structure that allows them to do so?

The Minister in his press release on 5 August 2008 announcing the publication of the Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008 stated that the Bill will grant all port companies the power to invest outside their current harbour limits and to pursue opportunities outside the State. He also stated that with this Bill the ten State port companies can pursue a robust, commercial agenda, thereby boosting the commercial mandate given to them by the Government in the Harbours Act 1996. That is all very laudable and worthy. However, some of the amendments seek to undermine these companies. Wolfe Tone would be proud of Deputy P. J. Sheehan's articulation of the importance of Bantry harbour. While we welcome the Bill, some of the amendments seek to undermine its general thrust.

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