Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I remember showing the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney's father, the late Hugh Coveney, around the port. I did so alone because the Fine Gael representative did not turn up. He spoke about the uniqueness of the peninsula and the fact that such a beautiful place was adjacent to a huge population of possible visitors. Fifteen or 16 years later that has not changed. I have not had the pleasure of meeting the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, in Howth but I hope that is something that might be remedied. The Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy John Perry, was with our chamber of commerce some months ago. However, I hope the Minister, Deputy Coveney, will visit.

It is extraordinary that the Minister has not consulted the key stakeholders - I hope the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, will convey that to him - particularly the Howth Sutton Community Council, which has existed for many decades, the chamber of commerce, which has a similarly lengthy history, and the world famous Howth Yacht Club. I ask him to have a full and detailed consultation on this matter. Bodies representing a gamut of commercial, sporting, cultural and marine organisations and businesses are bitterly opposed to the proposal.

The Minister referred to Fingal County Council. The county council scrapped this proposal following public uproar about a decade ago. It simply decided not to proceed with it due to the nature of the town, given the narrow streets of Howth, and because it would be disastrous for commercial business. The Minister did not respond to the point I made about Dún Laoghaire harbour. Our chamber of commerce believes Dún Laoghaire was seriously damaged by the introduction of charges in the harbour area.

Finally, we must have far more detailed information from the Minister as to what is being brought forward. He should talk to people. After doing so, he will, in justice, simply abandon this proposal, due to the uniqueness of Howth Port. There is a great port in the Minister's constituency of Donegal which I was pleased to visit on a number of occasions when I was spokesman on the marine for the Labour Party. Howth is geographically even more unique given that it is so close to 1.5 million people and is used by hundreds of thousands of them annually. I ask that the Minister, Deputy Coveney, take this on board, visit us in Howth and, hopefully, we will resolve this matter.

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