Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Schedule 1 reads "COMPANIES TO WHICH AN ORDER UNDER SECTION 8OR 28MAY REFER" and I see it as death row. Section 8 provides for the transfer of shareholdings of a company while section 28 provides for the transfer and dissolution of a company. In examining the ports listed, I believe there is no need to have Drogheda there. It made half a million euro and its volumes have returned to pre-recession levels. Members have heard the case for Galway, which made €450,000 and has a profit of approximately €3,000 per ship. New Ross definitely needs repair and if I have the numbers to hand, I believe it lost €333,000 in the last year. While Wicklow is going reasonably and is breaking even, then there is Dún Laoghaire, which has been in trouble since the departure of Sealink. I believe it lost €3.5 million in the three years from 2011 to 2013. It needs to examine whether it can turn itself into some kind of marina and I gather a planning decision from An Bord Pleanála is imminent. I believe three of the five ports listed, namely, Drogheda, Galway and Wicklow, do not need to be under the threat of transfer and dissolution of company.Bear in mind that this is an industry in which Larne is in the private sector and presumably makes a profit. Greenore is also in the private sector and presumably those who put their money into it are satisfied, or at least they do not come to the House seeking assistance. Cork Port made €1.7 million, Shannon made €2.8 million, Waterford made €1.5 million and Rosslare made €1.4 million. That is a total of €7.4 million, so this is a business.

Two ports will require radical change and I believe three can survive. I appreciate what the Minister said about the 18-month period, as it allows for the possibility of them turning around. The two that are in trouble deserve the attention of the House, the Department and anybody who can help to envisage a future for Dún Laoghaire and New Ross, but some of the others are trading successfully. Is their development potential reduced by the fact that there is this threat over them? We have heard what the Galway people have said. I have heard people say the same about Drogheda and Wicklow, where there are 70 ships compared with nine in Arklow, which is under Wicklow County Council. Is this too draconian a place for all five harbours? Does having that death row list accomplish anything? In other words, if they are not careful they will be moved into local authority control. Those were my thoughts in framing that amendment. The outlook is quite grim if one is under sections 8 or 28, although it states that it "may refer". I am not sure how many ports would wish to be there.