Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his plans to develop Dun Laoghaire Harbour as a vital public amenity for the people of Dun Laoghaire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13743/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Dún Laoghaire Harbour is owned and operated by a commercial State company. The primary responsibility for the development of the harbour lies with the company, on behalf of the State. The company is unique among the ten State port companies in that, while its main income stream is still from commercial shipping, the harbour is also the State's largest marine leisure amenity. In addition, the harbour is an important maritime heritage site and is host to what is reputed to be the nation's most popular walk. The company successfully manages these multiple roles and continues to invest in the amenity value of the harbour.

The company is currently in the process of preparing a master plan for the future development of the harbour. I welcome this initiative, which is in line with international best practice for the medium to long-term planning of ports and harbours. I encourage the many stakeholders in the harbour to participate positively in this process.

The business is facing a substantial reduction in its commercial shipping revenue this year. It has been preparing for this eventuality for the last number of years by pursuing a twin strategy of developing alternative income streams from marine leisure and tourism related business, while also reducing its cost base.

Following a public consultation on national ports policy last year, it is my intention to publish a revised ports policy document later this year. This will provide a renewed policy framework for any future decisions on individual ports, such as Dún Laoghaire.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I am sure the Minister has read the McCarthy report, which has yet to be discussed in the Dáil. It "recommends that privatisation of some or all of the ports should be considered, ideally after the recommended restructuring". I would like an assurance from the Minister and the Government that there will be absolutely no question of selling Dún Laoghaire Harbour, which the Minister correctly indicated is one of the most important amenity harbours in the country. It is of historic, cultural, heritage and economic value to Dún Laoghaire, a town that is in considerable economic difficulty. I would like the Minister to assure us there will be no consideration given to the sale of the harbour.

The Minister referred to the efforts of the harbour company to reduce its cost base. Some aspects of that are worrying and might imply to workers and locals that the restructuring prior to possible privatisation is already under way. For example, five harbour police had their jobs axed recently, with a detrimental effect on the security to walkers and users of the port. Other workers were supposed to enjoy the protection of the Harbours Act, having been transferred when the port moved from direct Government ownership to semi-State status. They were given protection under the Harbours Act in terms of pay and conditions but were recently asked to accept a 35% pay cut, while the management of the harbour company is refusing to entertain pay cuts for management.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Can we have a question please?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I would like the Minister to assure us there will be fairness in any restructuring and that the fairness will include negotiation on a reduction in pay for workers, protecting workers' jobs in the harbour, ensuring management is required to share in any reduction they ask of the workforce, that there is real consultation with the workforce and local people on how to develop this vital amenity and that it is not facing sale or will not be commercialised-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Can we have a question please?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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-----in a way that will damage and be detrimental to the future of the harbour as an amenity.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I assure the Deputy there will be real consultation and input from users, stakeholders, the local community and the staff in respect of the master plan. That is the point of the master plan. We will launch the master plan consultation in the coming weeks. Everyone will be invited to participate.

In respect of ports, the McCarthy report recommends that they be consolidated into three port companies - Dublin, Cork and Shannon Foynes - and that privatisation be considered at a later stage. The Government is considering the McCarthy report and has made no decision on it. It will be further down the line before the Government is in a position to publish its views on the recommendations of the McCarthy report. That is under discussion at departmental and Cabinet level and it would be wrong of me to prejudice the outcome of those discussions and deliberations. The restructuring of the port is in no way connected to any possible privatisation in the future. The restructuring is taking place because the port needs to match its expenditure with its income. It is a port company and a business that must match expenditure with income. That is why the workforce is being reduced from 42 to 26 and why there are discussions at the LRC. The LRC is the right place for that work to be done on how further savings can be made.

Deputy Boyd Barrett referred to people who were previously civil servants. They have special protection under the Harbours Act but it is up to the Minister for Finance to make a determination on their tenure, under section 39(3) of the Harbours Act, after consulting me. No process has commenced in that respect. Those who were previously civil servants and transferred to the port company did not have the pension levy or the public sector pay cut applied to them in the way it was applied to current public servants.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Can I ask a supplementary question?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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No, time has expired.