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

Deputy Boyd Barrett has spoken about the principle of setting up a consultation or stakeholder group but that does not cover all of his amendment. His amendment also provides that the other amendments in this group replace references to the local authority chief executive with a reference to the elected council in consultation with the stakeholder and community group. While the Deputy has understandably focused on the set-up of that group, he wants to give that group, along with the local authority, a set of powers which is wielded either by the CEO of the local authority or by the local authority members or both together. In effect, he wants to change the way decisions on matters such as this are made within local authority units. I cannot agree to a decision like that being made because I believe the CEO of the local authority will have a pivotal role in that and the CEO’s relationship with the local authority members will be crucial. If the local authority members want to put in place a group such as the Deputy refers to it is its business to do so. We rarely hear the word "subsidiarity" in respect of port and harbour policy but I believe the local authority is the best level of governance for making decisions like that, instead of my saying it needs to do it.

Deputy Ellis made a very good point about legal matters. There is a due diligence process that needs to take place before the integration takes place that would deal with such issues. As to how the ports and harbours will be integrated into the local authority, I and the Department must decide whether they are incorporated as single corporate entities or amalgamated in their entirety. Through making that decision the matters the Deputy has raised will be dealt with.

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