Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

By and large, I welcome the transfer of port companies to local authorities as it is important we provide a sound footing for many of these harbours. Deputy Boyd Barrett has tabled a number of amendments in this regard and I wish to address some of the issues concerning Dún Laoghaire Harbour. I welcome the transfer of Dún Laoghaire Port to the local authority and see the positives in that. The proximity of Dún Laoghaire to Dublin Port is important and offers huge potential. Dún Laoghaire Port also holds a unique, strategic position when it comes to maritime leisure and water sport assets.

It is a pity that Dún Laoghaire Port no longer has significant commercial shipping revenue, unlike the other ports included in the Bill which have regular cargo shipping. However, there is huge potential to consider this for Dún Laoghaire and hopefully the local authority will do that. Dún Laoghaire has been a major venue for prestigious international yachting and caters for all ages. Many international fetes have taken place there over the years. The harbour is also in an exceptional position in the context of some of its long-established stakeholders, some of which are world renowned and have been operating there since the early 19th century.

Special economic circumstances pertain in regard to Dún Laoghaire town and harbour. I have visited the area many times and am aware how unique it is. The harbour is a unique tourist asset for the greater Dublin area and has millions of visitors each year. A variety of local communities use the harbour for offshore and onshore fishing, rowing, Irish language activity centres and sailing schools. The area has a unique architectural heritage also, for example the 19th century internationally renowned harbour. Dún Laoghaire is also of renown among the diaspora, given that more people emigrated from Ireland through the harbour than from any other place in the country from 1859 onwards. These are significant pluses for Dún Laoghaire.

There are huge concerns also in regard to the harbour. The loss of shipping and of the ferry have had a commercial impact. There is a fractious relationship between the various stakeholders, an issue that has been raised by Deputy Boyd Barrett. Hopefully, the council will be better placed to tackle this issue. There is also uncertainty in regard to the transfer process, with people concerned about job losses and whether the transfer will be an enhancement. The commercial viability of the current harbour company is an issue that is also on the agenda. Fears have been raised by commercial ratepayers and local property tax payers and there are fears of creeping privatisation. Deputy Boyd Barrett mentioned some of the schemes that are planned for the harbour and I hope the council and councillors will consider these carefully. There are fears that the area will be over developed to such an extent that Dún Laoghaire will no longer be unique. There are also fears that there will be reduced public accessibility to the harbour area. I hope that does not happen and feel confident that councillors will ensure it does not. Dún Laoghaire Harbour has potential for the berthing of super cruise liners and what this could provide for the area should be explored.

In regard to the perception that exists on the issue of governance and the accountability of local authorities to public representatives and local communities, this has been a huge issue. Deputy Boyd Barrett refers in his amendments to the power of the CEO and I agree that we need an input into decisions from a number of stakeholders, including local and community representatives, residents and businesses. People must be allowed to have a good input and decisions should not be left to the CEO. The power of the CEO is one of the major issues in regard to the harbour. We have often seen problems in Dublin City Council and other local authorities when managers used their executive powers to make decisions. I and other Deputies have challenged such decisions in the past because we felt managers had too much power and could override the other councillors.

There are a lot of fears in regard to this Bill, but there is also hope that it will bring improvements to Dún Laoghaire Harbour and other harbours around the country. It is important that local authorities have a significant input. I support the amendments.

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