Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the proposal from the Drogheda Port Company to build a major new port at Bremore in Fingal county; the timeframe and supports available to this project; the way in which he sees the new national port fitting into the recently launched ports policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8206/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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In January of this year, my colleague, the Minister of State, launched the Government's ports policy statement. The policy statement aims to better equip the port sector and its stakeholders to meet national and regional capacity and service needs. One of the key challenges that lies ahead is the provision of adequate in-time port capacity, particularly for unitised trade. The policy statement sets out a framework to ensure that capacity needs are identified, planned and progressed in a co-ordinated manner.

The Department is initially consulting the commercial ports concerned to determine their view of port capacity and how they intend to deal with the projected capacity requirement. The Department is interested in key projects identified by the commercial ports as essential to deal with anticipated capacity requirements to 2014 and beyond, and whether the ports see these as being funded from their resources or in partnership with the private sector.

Drogheda Port Company has indicated that its proposal for the development of a new deep water port at Bremore will be a key element of its response to the information request from the Department in regard to port capacity. The timeframe for the proposed development and the preparation of a detailed business plan are matters for Drogheda Port Company in the first instance.

I cannot say at this stage which projects will meet the national capacity requirement. The new policy framework encourages all port sector stakeholders to address the issue of capacity provision. The policy statement makes it clear that the State will support capacity provision as residual financier, but only if proven essential to progress identified high quality self-sustaining projects. Clearly, not all proposals are likely to proceed.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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The Minister obviously received the briefing documents and so on in regard to the proposal for Bremore. I understand Fingal County Council, in its development plan, is looking positively at the possibility of this development as well. Does the Minister see Bremore and the new Drogheda Port fulfilling a key part in this essential infrastructure, namely, our ports, given that 99% of our trade is by sea? In terms of our size, we are probably one of the most important trading nations in the world. This development might have a role to play in that context.

I hope we get a chance at some stage to have a full debate on the ports policy document which was interesting in the context of some of the questions it left unanswered. What is the Minister's view on the capacity constraints which may exist? The policy document refers to an increase in capacity of approximately 35% to 40% by 2015. Does the Minister see this increase being met by the seven or eight major ports?

I refer to the comments on privatisation of ports' property. The policy document said the Minister has an open mind in regard to privatisation. Obviously, we have a concern that the important land banks of Dublin Port and of other ports around the country would be open to land speculation and to privatisation — a type of snatch and grab of very important land in urban areas. In this city, the port has marched steadily towards the Irish Sea.

Does the Minister have any views on the criticisms of the ports policy document, which the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources received, by IBEC? I understand the pension liabilities of port workers is mentioned in the policy document. This is another important factor in the likely configuration of our future ports policy.

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I am familiar with the proposal of Drogheda Port Company. I have taken a keen interest in it for a number of years. It was good enough to brief me on that proposals as soon as it was finalised. I do not want to prejudice any process which will take place but, having read it and knowing about the ports policy document, it is the type of project and approach we need to use in the development of our ports to meet the capacity demand up to 2014 about which the Deputy spoke and to which the policy document referred. I will not commit myself any further than that.

I had the opportunity recently to see what Hong Kong has done over the years. It is the ports capital of the world, particularly for the unitised trade. It evolved from virtually nothing over a period. I know China is on its doorstep and we probably would not be able to be as ambitious. Some 80% to 90% of our goods and services are exported, so obviously a strong ports policy is necessary.

I have no difficulty with the suggestion the Deputy made in regard to ports policy generally and it might be a good idea for us to debate it either in this House or in committee. On the Deputy's point about privatisation of ports and so on, the type of projects about which we are talking, such as the development of 21 hectares in Dublin Port or the proposal for Ringaskiddy, are major projects. The Exchequer will not be able to fund all of them and the ports will have to look to private sources of financing. I do not know what that might end up being but it will involve public private partnerships and the private sector in a big way. In regard to the criticism by IBEC, the policy has been put forward and we will consider any constructive suggestions and adapt policy as necessary as a result. It is a comprehensive document.

The question of pension liabilities is a matter for the ports themselves. I am aware there are pension deficits in a number of them. Obviously, that must be considered and the interests of the workers must be protected.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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All of us in this House who have been treading the streets of Kildare and Meath in the past few days have seen the consequences of the remarkably fast development that has taken place in those areas without proper planning. Would the Minister agree that Dublin City Council's proposal for a different use of the south port docks area presents a unique opportunity to use that valuable land, which is within walking distance of the city centre, not merely to store containers but as one of the best quality areas of development so that people do not have to make those incredible congested journeys into Meath and Kildare every morning? If we turn to the Dublin Port Company for direction, it is clear it would plaster the whole of Dublin Bay in concrete and turn the city into a port and nothing else.

In that context, does the Minister agree that this alternative development of Dublin Port needs strategic leadership from someone like him? Does he agree that this is a clever option, that we can develop our port traffic somewhere like Drogheda which has the proper infrastructure, and put people in the south docks in one of the highest quality locations in the whole of Europe? Will the Minister bring in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Transport, or will he leave it to the port companies to decide what they want? The ports document shows a massive increase in the volume of trade in Dublin Port which gives me no confidence that the Minister is listening to what people in Dublin City Council are setting out as a very intelligent solution.

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The matter to which the Deputy has adverted is a matter for Dublin City Council.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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It is not. The ports are under the Minister's direction.

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Any development in the port must go through a planning process, which is controlled by the local authority.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Dublin Port Company and Dublin City Council are at loggerheads on this. The Minister must give direction.