Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for his question. I am aware of the excellent work he has done on this project for a long period of time. It is always a cause of great embarrassment to him and to me when we find ourselves on the same side on issues of this sort, but I am afraid we may find ourselves in that position again today. That does not mean I am going to meet exactly who Deputy Boyd Barrett wants me to meet, but it does mean I think there is a necessity to make haste on this issue. I will answer the Deputy's first question, on who I should and should not meet, although I do not think it is set in stone. These kinds of rigid situations where someone does not meet people because it is not their function are a little too orthodox for my liking. If it is useful, I will meet people, but if it is going to be damaging or just a display of ministerial action without achieving anything, I will not do it. Of course, I would be very happy to talk to Deputy Boyd Barrett, as a public representative, on this area at any time, and that might be the most appropriate form of contact.

The Harbours Act 2015 provides the legislative basis for one of the key recommendations in the national ports policy, namely, that governance of the five ports of regional significance should vest in more appropriate local authority-led governance structures. The process of transferring governance, and the future governance and operational structures of the port, are primarily matters for agreement between the local authority and the port company and I do not think that is in dispute. The Act provides that the two entities should work together in driving the process of transfer, including the necessary due diligence. In the case of Dún Laoghaire, I understand this process is now fairly well advanced.

As ports operate as commercial companies, I am not involved in day-to-day operational issues. Nor is it normally appropriate for me to meet directly with local authorities or local interest groups on these issues. However, I can confirm that a widespread public consultation process was undertaken by my officials from 2010 onwards, prior to the publication of the national ports policy 2013, and again during the legislative process leading up to the enactment of the Harbours Act 2015. Other public consultation processes were undertaken by the port company on a range of issues and provided an opportunity for all stakeholders and interested parties to give their views on the future of the harbour.

Since 2013, when the transfer process commenced, senior officials from my Department have met Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company and the chief executive and senior officials of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on a number of occasions to clarify issues raised and to advise on the transfer process. My Department has also been kept apprised of developments as part of the regular communications that take place between the company and shareholder.

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