asked the Taoiseach if he will give details of the respective responsibilities of (a) the Minister for Tourism and Transport, (b) the Minister for the Marine, (c) the Minister for the Environment in shipping and port matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Precise details of the responsibilities of the Ministers in question are defined by statute subject to any relevant transfer of functions Orders which have been deposited in the Dáil Library. In this connection, I would refer the Deputy to the written reply I made to Deputy Avril Doyle on 1 April 1987 listing relevant transfer of functions Orders.

Will the Taoiseach not agree that the various documents to which he refers serve to obfuscate the changes that are made in this connection? Will he not agree that it is difficult to justify the splitting up of the shipping function between at least two Departments? I would like him to elaborate on precisely what shipping function the Department of Tourism and Transport now have. Despite all the papers to which the Taoiseach has referred it is far from clear.

Which shipping functions——?

Which shipping functions do the Department of Tourism and Transport have?

Ferries.

Just ferries. Does that mean that the Department of the Marine are responsible for shipping policy other than ferries?

More or less.