Feargal Quinn (Independent)

It is surprising how many things in life we take for granted. It is only when something goes wrong that our attention is drawn to it. I am thinking of the serious glitch at air traffic control affecting Heathrow. Something similar happened in Dublin about ten days ago, when there was a glitch in the air traffic system. It was solved very readily and competently. Senators may remember that, last year, in both North America and Italy, there were significant electricity blackouts. I raise that as a reminder of the need to invest in infrastructure — things we take, and have always taken, for granted, except when something goes wrong.

I was unaware of it until yesterday but today is the final day for the submission of tenders sought by the Dublin Port Authority for the harbours at Skerries and Balbriggan. I had assumed that they were maintained, if not by the State, then certainly by the local authority. Apparently the local authority does not have the responsibility. It appears that the Dublin Port Authority is putting the running of the harbours out to tender. The acceptance date is this day week and the harbours could go out of the hands of the Dublin Port Authority and the county council. This is exactly the type of infrastructure that should be maintained. I am not sure of the situation. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, has had his attention drawn to this. I gather he has not responded yet. Let us encourage him to do so.