Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have a number of statutory responsibilities as regards corporate governance oversight of our State commercial port companies under both the harbours Acts and the code of practice for the governance of State bodies. ​These include the requirements in the Acts that a company seek ministerial consent in relation to certain specific activities, such as the establishment of any subsidiary company; borrowings; and certain investments in undertakings, other than a subsidiary, greater than €1.27 million. In addition, the code of practice requires ministerial consent for any "action which would extend or change significantly the nature, scope or scale of activities in which it ... engages" and also where any joint venture is proposed.

As the Deputy has noted, as part of its development masterplan, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company has a number of projects at different stages of conception or delivery, some of which require ministerial consent and some of which do not. Both my predecessor and I have previously raised concerns in regard to the company's timely adherence to their obligations in this regard. However, I recently had a constructive meeting with members of the board of the company in which I outlined clearly my position on these projects and I have subsequently written to the company highlighting its reporting obligations in respect of them.

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