Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

There are different ways of getting things done. Some of the smaller harbour commissioners have been amalgamated, including Sligo which has been transferred to the local authority. I understand there is a good vehicle and people who were previously on the harbour commissioners are still very much part of it and are making an input. While the harbour commissioners may be gone in a legal format, the people who were there are still very much involved, whether or not that is a fair comparison. Currently there are two options. The harbour commissioners could be transferred to the local authority or could become a private company. This legislation simply gives another option, which has been recommended by some of the expert groups. If one wants to live in absolute isolation the option of being a private company has always been there. Maybe the Senators should look at that but such a port is a private company and does not get grants from the Government or anyone else. None of these things is a perfect answer. I am not sure if anybody has, to date, become a private port. Rosslare is slightly different as it is owned by CIE under very old legislation and therefore it may not be a fair comparison.

Those are the other options. Once the legislation goes through, Bantry or Fenit will not be transferred overnight. It is enabling legislation giving another option as to what could happen in future. There will obviously be detailed discussions on how it will be run in future. The people in Bantry should formulate their thinking and plans, and be hard at the bargaining table about making an impact and input so that the good of the region will not be totally forgotten about if and when it comes under the Port of Cork.