Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I will take what the Minister of State says in good faith. We are talking about a horse of a different colour. The Department's ports policy statement was published in 2005. The harbours listed are: Annagassan Harbour, Arklow Harbour, Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour, Kinsale Harbour, the River Moy Harbour, to which the Minister of State referred and which is under way, Sligo Harbour, Westport Harbour, Wexford Harbour, Youghal, Kilrush, Tralee and Fenit and Bantry. I cannot say for definite that all of these harbours are in the same situation but subject to correction, I believe that the Kinsale Harbour Commissioners — perhaps not all the members — and Baltimore are, by and large, accepting their fate that they will be taken over by Cork County Council. They are not being totally isolated because they will have representation. The Kinsale area is represented by a number of councillors from all parties, as are the Skibbereen and Baltimore areas.

However, Bantry is different in many respects because Bantry Harbour is unique. I may have been wrong at the time but a vote was taken a few years ago and I was one of three who suggested that we should consider exploring the possibilities with Cork County Council. I cannot speak for Fenit in that regard but I know there were historic issues with Sligo to do with relocation and there was a lot of consultation. I do not see any other Member from Sligo or from other areas coming in to this House with the same agenda that I have with regard to consultation because Bantry is unique.

With all due respect to the Minister of State, we are putting the cart before the horse. I am fairly satisfied that with regard to the harbours I listed, there is probably a desire on the part of the local ports to say they are currently in limbo. I know there is frustration in Baltimore and some frustration in Kinsale and, therefore, under Cork County Council they would find a home where they could move forward together because sometimes these ports are somewhat isolated. Bantry is unique because of its set-up and because of the business we transact. Bantry Harbour and Bantry Bay cannot be compared with any other location in Ireland. We are the second finest bay — not fjord — in the world. The other one is in South America. One cannot put the River Moy Harbour and Baltimore in the same category.

I again implore the Minister of State to stand back from this precipice. He is talking about consultation but I would prefer to have the consultation first and postpone the legislation or this aspect of the legislation affecting Bantry. I am not speaking for the other ports. I am making a specific case for Bantry. I have grave reservations and doubts that consultation, which I consider to be after the event, will be effective.

Nobody knows more than me the intricacies within Bantry. Whoever is responsible in future will encounter it. When proposals were put forward to extend Bantry pier and to carry out dredging, there were issues concerning inshore fishermen. They have traditional historic rights going back for 300 years to mend their nets on certain parts of the quays and these were respected by the courts. These rights cannot be ignored. All we need is one guy to come along and say he mends his nets at a certain place once a year. These rights are unique to Bantry.

I may not have made this point earlier about the complexities of the inner harbour in Bantry where many of the moorings are controlled by the harbour master and these are for small yachts and pleasure boats. He will probably kill me for saying this but it is controlled in a higgedly piggedly fashion because one just puts down an anchor to moor. There are so many wheels within wheels in regard to Bantry and the inner harbour that, with all due respect, it cannot be compared with places like the River Moy Harbour and other harbours. I am subject to correction but in many of these cases they are so isolated that they would probably be glad to come under the umbrella of the local authority. Bantry should be given unique attention because it is unique. It has its difficulties as well as its salient features. It has its adversities as well as its assets of geographic location and other tangible assets. When we come back on Report Stage, the Minister of State might, subject to consultation with the draftsmen, consider what will become, in the short to medium term, of the railway pier, the dredging, the extension to the existing pier owned by Cork County Council, support for the mussel industry and the ongoing support for Whiddy Island?

I will not list the other harbours on the list but Bantry Bay is in many ways unique and, while it is beautiful, its situation is complex. I am seriously concerned. When will due diligence be complete? I thought it was complete and would like to know from the Minister of State whether it will be complete before January. I would have been happier if this had been done first and if the consultation with the various groups had happened before now. Certainty should be given so we know if the date for the hand-over to Cork Port or Cork County Council is 2010, 2015 or 2017, if it is to occur. There is much uncertainty. I am speaking for the people I represent, who are deeply concerned that I make my viewpoint known.

There are a number of issues I still want to address in detail. I compliment the Minister and the Department. The slipway on Whiddy Island has been completed, which should have been done years ago and was one of the recommendations in the Costello report. This might be hard on the Minister but I compliment him on that completion. If I am correct — the Minister of State might address this point — the contract for the corresponding slipway on the mainland at the abbey is due to be signed shortly. This would ease my mind greatly with regard to access to and from Whiddy in the event of an oil industry disaster and it would also allow a farmer to take off a lorry load of sheep or cattle, which would be another important feature. The Department has been working closely with the harbour board in progressing these issues, which is a step in the right direction.

Reference is made to the future of Bantry, on which there is an issue I cannot ignore. When the debate resumes the Minister of State might confirm where is the €1.9 million which was committed in 2000 and recommitted in May 2002. I do not want to blame the Minister of State and I want to be fair in my comments. The funding was committed in good faith at that time and this commitment was received with great aplomb. However, the necessary planning was apparently not in place and the harbour board, against my judgment at the time, went off on a different tangent and decided to build another pier out from the railway pier, which has since been abandoned.

These moneys have been discussed. Perhaps we could get commitments that the pier extension and the dredging will be progressed one way or other. While I do not want an answer today, perhaps the Minister of State will confirm that the €3 million allocated by the then Minister for Finance in May 2002 is in place and is being progressed. Will he explain in whose control is the foreshore on Whiddy Island? What will become of the railway pier? Will it be used as part of the process of dredging whereby it and its surrounding area will be affected? I am deeply concerned about these issues.

My colleague, Senator Ned O'Sullivan, wishes to address this amendment and, as the adjournment of the debate is drawing nigh, I will allow him in. However, with all due respect, this issue needs more than revisiting. I want it put back until due diligence is complete. Let those aspects be dealt with first and this area could possibly then be revisited.

The burnt child dreads the fire and the people of Bantry have been burned so many times, although I am not suggesting it is the Minister of State's fault. I could write a book. I am passionate about this because my father and forefathers fished in Bantry Bay going back to the times before the Famine. Close associates of mine were lost in the bay, whether fishing or in other ways. For 40 years others in different parties, and I in my 25 years in public life, have failed, so it is difficult to say "Live horse and you will get grass" because the horse will be a bag of bones by the time we get the grass.