Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Death row is quite a bleak description for somebody who has been lauding the ability of ports to trade successfully, although the Senator acknowledges the challenges that some of these ports face. It is correct that they face challenges and I am very familiar with them.

The Senator will not be surprised to hear that I disagree with him on the amendment. I also disagree with any suggestion that this is death row for these ports. In fact, it is the contrary. This is the first time there has been a policy that recognises the role of regional ports. If one is working in, a director of or doing business with one of these ports, there is now a national policy that recognises the key role of national ports, which we discussed earlier, and acknowledges that there is also a role for regional ports. The allegation could be made that this is about big ports getting bigger, but we are saying very clearly that there is a role for regional ports and, within that, the appropriate governance structure for them is inside the region within which they are located. That is not to say that they do not face significant challenges.

Earlier, Senator Walsh described the changes he has seen in the ports with which he is familiar. I have also talked about the type of changes that are taking place within the overall sector. The Schedule, as the Senator knows given his skill in this area, cuts to the core of our national ports policy. If we believe that different ports have different roles to play, as I do, the characterisation in this Schedule is fundamental to that. Indeed, were we to accept the Senator's amendment as currently drafted, these ports would sit outside of national ports policy and some of the challenges they face and the work they must do could get even more difficult outside a Bill which seeks to enact the regional dimension of our national ports policy.