Brendan Daly (Fianna Fail)

I am not sure whether those who have spoken against this section are familiar with the events of recent years. The chief executive of a State body in the mid-west has been having an ongoing argument with the chief executive of another body in recent times. Both officials are in the service of the State as chief executives of Government agencies. Their public disagreement was bad for Shannon Airport and both agencies.

During a recent debate on tourism I raised the question of a huge public dispute between Clare County Council and Shannon Free Airport Development Company in relation to development works at the Cliffs of Moher, an important tourist destination. When the matter was referred to An Bord Pleanála, it meant that three State agencies were trying to resolve a dispute that should have been resolved by the two agencies involved. I do not have a problem with bodies expressing their views as part of their private communication with the Minister, but public expressions of grievance can undermine the bodies concerned. Regardless of where this provision came from, it is necessary in the light of the experiences of recent years.