Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

I have listened to the Members' comments. The 2005 ports policy statement which accepted these recommendations on reducing the size of port boards and removing users and local authority members from those boards was widely circulated at the time. It was certainly sent to the port companies and was discussed by their boards, on which there are local authority members. They had a direct opportunity to respond. That was as recent as three years ago.

This change will not be implemented the day after the Bill is passed. Everybody will serve out their time, so to speak, at a minimum.