Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

I am speaking on behalf of the Anti-Austerity Alliance. In theory, the idea of bringing ports under the remit of local authorities is a positive step as port authorities have proved unaccountable to local communities in many cases. They have not taken the impact of the port on the community and local small businesses into account. However, the devil is in the detail. In reality, these authorities are not going to be accountable to local councillors. Ministerial orders will still apply.

Section 9 allows councils to sell 49% of their shareholdings. Such sales would be subject to a decision of the council, in the context of the underfunding of local authorities. We all know this underfunding is cited whenever any of our councillors try to extract anything on behalf of local residents. Limits are also being put on the ability to borrow. This could give rise to situations in which the selling of shares is cited as the only means to raise capital for further investment. Even the Competition Authority has said that the Government should retain public ownership of the ports infrastructure, yet the Government is providing for 49% of harbours to be privatised. It starts with 49%, just like Aer Lingus, and ends up being the full shebang. That is exactly what can happen. Is this really a cloak for divestment, allowing the Government to sell off these harbours? The dangers of privatisation are very obvious. I have a 2013 statement from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions welcoming the fact the Government is retaining the harbours in public ownership. Was this clause introduced at some stage after the initial consultation?

These regional ports are not very significant in the overall context of the national economy but they are very important to local areas and communities. It would be wrong for private hands to take control of them. Private shareholders will not take into account the impact of their decisions on communities. We know this. Their bottom line is profit. We are likely to see an emphasis on property development on port land and a focus on commercially beneficial aspects, to the neglect of things like sports facilities, heritage, wildlife and the environment. We have already seen this occur, as Deputy Boyd Barrett has illustrated in the case of Dún Laoghaire.

There are also safety issues. The harbours are being passed over to local councils but I do not see the Government allocating funding as well. Perhaps the Minister of State can clarify that. I have no doubt that safety could potentially be compromised.

I also wish to ask about workers' rights. In the legislation, although there is provision for the recognition of existing terms and conditions, there is nothing said about protecting new entrants into these occupations. There will be significant pressure in the context of privatisation. We know this will mean cheap labour and casual work without the same terms and conditions. We only have to look at the likes of Irish Ferries and what happened there. I call on workers in the ports, local authorities and local communities to mobilise and lobby their representatives to ensure privatisation of the ports is opposed. I am by no means opposed to the harbours being in the hands of local councils, but that should not be with the potential for 49% of them to be sold.

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