Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Senator Warfield on his first Commencement matter. There is a tradition that one cannot be interrupted when one is making one's first speech on any issue in both these Houses.I will be as helpful as I can, but I think there are one or two misconceptions about the Genealogical Society of Ireland's premises, and I will try to put one or two of those to rest today.

I would like to clarify that the premises in question which is currently occupied by the Genealogical Society of Ireland is owned by the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, not the Dublin Port Company. Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company is a commercial company established under the Harbours Act 1996. It has a statutory mandate to take all proper measures to the management, control, operation and development of Dún Laoghaire Harbour. The company is required to conduct its business in a cost-effective and efficient manner. There is no Exchequer funding for the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, nor indeed for any other port company. National ports policy clearly outlines that the commercial port companies must operate on a commercial basis without recourse to State funding for any activities. While I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, the company has informed my officials that it has permitted the Genealogical Society of Ireland to occupy premises on the Carlisle Pier in Dún Laoghaire harbour on a rent-free basis for a period of over six years.

When the Genealogical Society of Ireland's lease on its premises on George's Street, Dún Laoghaire, expired in 2010, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company offered the society the use of the company-owned premises on the Carlisle Pier under a licence agreement for a period of three years. The premises, which is owned by the harbour company, was not being used for commercial purposes at that time. It was firmly understood by the society at the time of occupancy that the use of the premises was being offered as a short-term solution only, to allow the society a period of time to search for an alternative premises in conjunction with the local authority. The Genealogical Society of Ireland has now had the benefit of occupying these premises on a rent-free basis since 2010. Indeed, the society has acknowledged its debt of gratitude to Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company for the use of the company's premises on the Carlisle Pier when the lease on the society's previous premises had expired, and for extending that period for a further three year period, up to and including 2016.

Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company now requires the premises for a commercial letting. It is understood that a commercial operator has recently expressed an interest in renting facilities on the Carlisle Pier. This includes the premises currently occupied by the Genealogical Society of Ireland. Given those circumstances, the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company gave the society three months' notice, asking that the society make arrangements to vacate the premises. Furthermore, the harbour company has offered to assist it in any way possible with its move. The society has acknowledged the support and assistance provided by the harbour company to the society over the last six years. The society has described the harbour company as a very attentive landlord, always on hand to assist the society and its board. The society has accepted the position that it must now vacate the premises and has notified its members that its archive and research centre at the Carlisle Pier is due to close on 14 February 2017.

I am aware that a motion was passed by the area committee of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council at a meeting held on 5 December 2016 requesting the chief executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown to explore what assistance the council could provide to the society to secure alternative premises. It was also acknowledged at that meeting that the society provides vitally important services for active retirement pursuits within the age-friendly county strategy. I understand that the county council's executive has now undertaken to meet the society to explore options for alternative premises as a matter of urgency, and I hope that the meeting will bear fruit.