Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 10, line 35, to delete “may” and substitute “shall”.

I can see this amendment has Senator Craughwell excited already. The line reads at present "a harbour master may attend formal meetings of directors of the transferred company". I wish to change this to "shall attend." We need the people who know the harbour on the ground, particularly if we are bringing in what might be called the landlubbers in the county management. One of the problems I have with much of managerial theory is that it creates layers of bureaucracy and never involves talking to the people who are actually there. The harbour master is there, and I hope that he might be given that role. He should be there. He will know what he is talking about, unlike the other people who have come in from the local authority.

Amendment No. 13 states: "In page 11, to delete lines 3 to 11". If we allowed him to be at meetings in any case, we would not need that other section regarding when he can attend. By being at the meeting, he is best placed to offer the kind of advice and wise counsel that will be useful.The harbour masters know the ships inside and out. They know the captains and the pilots who guide the ships ashore. We want the knowledge of such people, rather than people from the land side.