P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

-----and only 15 minutes remain to discuss all the amendments tabled.

It is time the Minister gave us a commitment for a viable harbour authority such as Bantry harbour authority. It has withstood the test of time, having been established for 25 years and going strong without any pound or euro of Government aid. The time is right to not let the people on the harbour board live in cloud cuckoo land; give them the right to proceed immediately and the authority to mind and cater for their own business. It will not cost the Minister €1 and all I will say is that the Minister should act on the promise he made to us last week on Committee Stage and grant us this opportunity to copperfasten the status of Bantry Harbour Authority.

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