Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 36:

In page 27, line 22, after "may" to insert the following:

", not less than one year following publication of an independent cost-benefit analysis of Bantry Bay Harbour as an independent entity, as part of the Port of Cork Company or as part of Cork County Council".

The control of two ports is jumping from one alternative form of governance to another. The first of these is Bantry Bay Harbour. It is a pity Senator O'Donovan is not contributing on this occasion because he knows much more about the harbour than I do. Bantry Bay Harbour was independent before control over it was transferred to the Port of Cork Company. It is proposed to transfer responsibility again, this time to Cork County Council. Do we know the ins and outs of the evaluations done on the harbour?

The second port in question is Dundalk, which was independent before it was transferred to Dublin Port Company. It is now proposed to transfer control of the port to Louth County Council. The changes in governance over a relatively short period are almost dizzying. What is the text underpinning this? Did Dublin Port Company find Dundalk Port unviable when it took it over? Was the issue competition with Drogheda Port, the new port at Bremore or Greenore Harbour? Did Dublin Port change its mind on ownership of Dundalk Port? Fundamental decisions are being made in rapid succession. We expected Dublin Port Company to do something in Dundalk Port. Why did it want to take over Dundalk Port if it is now proposing to hand over control of it to Louth County Council?

What is the best course of action for Bantry Port's future given that its position has changed from being independent to coming under the control of the Port of Cork Company and is now to be moved into Cork County Council? These are important decisions for the areas in question and the country. There should be some text by which we can assess whether these are good moves.