Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I welcome this Bill in so far as it provides for democratic oversight of the running of our harbours. It is important there be accountability for such assets of the State to the State. However, like Senators Cummins and O'Sullivan, I have reservations regarding the exclusion of local councillors - the people on the ground who know exactly what is going on - from membership of the boards. I can understand why Oireachtas Members or Members of the European Parliament might be excluded but I cannot for the life of me understand why we would want to exclude the people who live locally and who have an interest in developing their local harbours. I am delighted the Bill provides that any transfer will involve discussions with the relevant trade unions. That is a positive step which will make the transfer somewhat easier.

In regard to Dún Laoghaire, I have worked and lived adjacent to Dún Laoghaire for over 20 years and have watched the direction the port has taken and seen the loss of lines to and from Britain. The HSS Stena Explorerhas gone and that was a serious knock for the port. However, I have watched Dún Laoghaire develop a yachting industry. I believe that if these port companies were left to their own devices, they would respond and find a way forward for themselves. I was born and reared within sight of Galway Port and spent many long summer days there. Notwithstanding that this port lost the trade of Tynagh Mines several years ago, it managed to move its entire oil storage system from the centre of the city out onto a little island just off the harbour. There is also a massive coal import industry through Galway Port. Again, left to its own devices, I believe Galway would probably respond better than it will under the cumbersome management of a local authority.

I agree with Senator Barrett that local authorities are not exactly known for their dynamic, market-focused approach towards driving issues forward. I am not sure that is the right way forward. I agree with Senator Cummins that the annual report should be part of the reporting mechanism for the harbour boards locally. I am somewhat concerned by the level of authority we are ceding to the chief executive officers of local authorities.I accept what the Minister said that this is under the full sight of the local authority but it strikes me that if we cannot have a member of the local authority on the board as a voting member, surely we should have a nominee on the board who is there to represent and report back to the local authority first-hand information rather than second-hand information.

Section 13(3) deals with the harbour master. For some reason, we seem to be sidelining the harbour master. Maybe I am wrong and, if so, the Minister might correct me but it appears the harbour master's attendance at board meetings is at the discretion of the board. Anything he or she may have to say is at the discretion of board. The harbour master does not have a right to cast a vote at a board meeting. Surely, the harbour master is the person who knows what is happening on the ground and, like a chief executive officer in a major company, should have the right to cast a vote at any meetings. That is all I am willing to say on it. Overall, I welcome the move to bring some form of democratic accountability to harbours. Those are some of my concerns.