Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. It is proposed to carry out an independent cost-benefit analysis of all of the options for ports in amendment No. 2. A cost-benefit analysis must take into account the potential for commercial elements.

I remember when the tonnage in New Ross surpassed that in Foynes, which has much deeper water and greater potential in that regard, and it was considered a shipment port. However, its location did not lend itself to use by a lot of the traffic that came in through the eastern ports.

As a country that depends on imports and exports, we receive a lot of 3,000-, 4,000- or 5,000-tonne deadweight ships from mainland Europe. They fit very well into ports the size of New Ross and Drogheda. New Ross gained significantly at the expense of Waterford when the latter was locked down for two decades because of a dispute. It was akin to what went on with Waterford Crystal over the years. The dispute involved very difficult industrial relations, and very difficult players such as union activists were involved, which mitigated against those enterprises.

Smaller ports are better managed and have more focused workers who are keen to gain tonnage and improve their prospects and livelihoods, but this is being lost. I do not think local authority structures that have been denuded of funds will be in a position or have the commitment to promote and market those ports.

No matter what business one is in, if one does not market it, it is unlikely to do well. We will probably not deter the Minister of State from following through on the planned route, but when he was in the Chamber previously he showed an independence and clarity of thinking that needs to be brought to bear on this issue.

I refer specifically to two ports because my life's work in the port industry around the country has led me to understand what went on with competitors. I see potential in the two ports to which I referred, even though at present they may not be fulfilling their potential. Consigning them to a group and transferring assets to local authorities will not be a step in the right direction in terms of recovery in those ports.

If the Minister of State is going down this road, I would have preferred him to consider some sort of privatisation of the ports or a mixture involving privatisation. That is what is needed if there is to be any hope of the ports recovering and regaining the potential and business that they had in the past.