Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to get to the point. I thank the Minister. To be fair to him, he has provided a comprehensive paper and has set out his stall in print clearly. That is important, because I intend to circulate this to people. People are interested in these issues. I was somewhat surprised by the Minister's statement about some aspects of his Department not being political. All politics is political. The Minister is political. His job is political. This is all political.

I will take the Minister through a few points and question him on five or six key issues: the national ports policy; the sports capital programme, which he has discussed; concerns about Iarnród Éireann facing insolvency, as published in the media; the appointment of directors to organisations under his remit and for which he alone has responsibility; and school transport. Although that last does not fall under his Department completely, he is the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I would like to know the level of synergy in that regard.

I will start with the national ports policy and, without wanting to appear too parochial, Dún Laoghaire Harbour. Wicklow is now out of the scene, but Dún Laoghaire was one of a number of ports, including Galway, New Ross and Drogheda, that were affected by the Harbours Act 2015, which originated from the 2013 national ports policy. We are approaching 2017. For some reason best known to themselves, the previous two Administrations decided to remove local elected representatives from all of the port harbour companies. That decision was taken and I am not trying to revisit or change it, but it was a bad move. Local government keeps being eroded in terms of housing, water services, planning and so on. The decision some years ago to remove councillors was not taken on the Minister's watch, but I just wanted to make a point.The Act provides only for two transfer options relating to ports of regional significance. The first is the ministerial power to transfer the share holding of the companies to a relevant local authority and provide for certain matters relating to the future administration of any such company. The second is the ministerial power to dissolve the company and transfer all of its assets, liabilities and employees to a relevant local authority. They are the only two options available. Clearly the pace is very slow. The Minister has spoken before about due diligence but in the case of Dún Laoghaire, which seems to be the one that is holding things up, the due diligence process has been going on for a very long time. In the meantime, the port is falling asunder. The whole place is virtually closed up. Last week The Irish Timesreported that the ferry terminal building is available to lease for ten years. A purpose built multi-million euro ferry terminal for transporting people in and out of the country is now available to rent. It has been suggested that it might become a shopping centre. This is a State asset and for some reason, consecutive Ministers have said that the State has no involvement and that they cannot interfere. This is a State asset and indeed, all harbour companies are State assets. I asked the Minister previously what dividends each State company pays to the State. He was not able to answer me at that time and he may not be able to answer me today but I ask him to revert to me on that matter. I do know that in the case of Dún Laoghaire, it has never paid a dividend to the State.

Are these harbour companies viable? Do local authorities really have the capacity, in terms of maritime law and expertise, to deal with them? I believe they do not. The Minister must make a decision. In the event of a dispute, the Act provides the Minister with the power to make a decision. Communication is important. I know there are sensitive issues involved but I ask the Minister to outline the timeframe if he can. When is he going to exercise his power to make a decision one way or the other, if there is a disagreement between Dún Laoghaire harbour company and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council? Employment is at stake here and there are also serious pension concerns. A number of cases related to this company are before the High Court about which I gave details to the Minister previously. This is a company in crisis and it needs serious intervention. The Minister cannot walk away and say that he has no responsibility. This is an asset which is vested in the Ministers for Transport, Tourism and Sport and Finance. That is enough on that issue.

I welcome the Minister's comments on the railway review. I particularly welcome his statement that no rail line service is to be cut at this point in time. However, as someone who represents agricultural interests in the Seanad I am conscious of the importance of balanced rural development. In that context, it is important that we maintain, support and if necessary, subsidise good public transport across the country. Public transport comes at a cost to the taxpayer but if we are serious about spatial and regional development we must support towns and communities all over the country. I welcome what the Minister has said in that regard.

I fully agree with everything the Minister said about road safety. I ask the Minister to assure the House that the Road Safety Authority has the necessary resources and finances to do its job. Does it have a full complement of directors or are there vacancies at the authority at the moment? Has the authority made any request for additional resources or for more directors? I ask the Minister to give us the details in that regard. The Minister spoke about his commitment to road safety and I want to be assured that he is fully behind the Road Safety Authority and will respond to any requests for additional resources or manpower to enable the authority to do the job with which it is tasked.

I am not sure if school transport is within the Minister's remit. If so, I ask him to comment on it because there is a major crisis in the provision of school transport. I have been contacted by people from Donegal to Cork who have been unable to secure school transport because of the complexity of the rules regarding distance from schools. A fundamental review of school transport provision is needed.

On the sports capital programme, I note that the Minister intends to streamline the application process and that is to be welcomed. It is important to have early dialogue with the local authorities on encouraging people to apply for funding. I also welcome the Minister's commitments with regard to swimming pools. I will not be specific but will simply say that we need swimming pools and sports facilities across the country. It is important that local authorities are kept informed of the new, streamlining policies so that they can help applicants to access the programme.

I raised the matter of the Irish Rugby Football Union, IRFU and the Rugby World Cup bid in the House yesterday and I echo the Minister's enthusiasm for that bid. I also want to acknowledge the role played by the GAA, which the Minister did not mention. The GAA has co-operated with the IRFU and has offered synergy to the bid process. France and South Africa are also in the mix and it will be a tough battle to secure the event but it is a very positive development.

I have covered Iarnród Éireann and the national ports policy. On the latter, there is a crisis with the local authorities, except in the case of Wicklow Port Company which has been transferred. We must push that along.

Finally, Senator Craughwell raised the issue of scrambler quad bikes with the Minister earlier this week. I read the Minister's response today but I still have concerns. Many public representatives have been contacted with regard to the need for additional legislation in this area. The Minister, in his written response, said that he was satisfied that An Garda Síochána has the capacity and resources to deal with this matter but I suggest that a review be undertaken to determine if new legislation is required in this area.