asked the Minister for the Marine the reason he is not accepting the views of the Foynes harbour trustees regarding Foynes harbour, County Limerick and accommodating those views in his proposals for a new Shannon harbour authority.

89.

asked the Minister for the Marine when it is proposed to set up an authority for the Shannon estuary; and if it has been decided to include Foynes harbour board in the new authority.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 89 together. I hope to submit proposals for a Shannon estuary authority for consideration by the Government later this month. Those proposals have been formulated following detailed discussions with and consideration of the views of all interested parties. I do not consider it appropriate to make any further comment at this stage.

Is it not a fact that the Government have decided to go ahead with the Shannon Estuary Bill which will include all three major harbours and the smaller ports in the estuary? I would like the Minister to inform me and the House as to why he has not accepted the views of the Foynes harbour trustees that they, even for some time, should be left outside the scope of the Bill, with the possibility of being included, and the future dissolution of the trustees providing that matter comes before the House by way of an affirmative order. Does the Minister realise that the development in Foynes has far exceeded the development of the other harbours in the area? Can he please assure this House that the views of the trustees will be accepted as per the Harbours Bill discussed in this House this time last year?

As I have said in my reply, it is hoped to submit proposals for the Shannon estuary authority for consideration by the Government later this month. I fully appreciate that there has been considerable development in the Foynes area in the past. However, this is draft legislation and I feel it would be inappropriate of me to give any views when the Government have not had an opportunity of considering the matter.

I do not know why the Minister of State is so reluctant to give views in this House when the Minister, Deputy Daly, has given his views quite categorically and they are on record elsewhere. He has said words to this effect — I respect your ruling and I will not quote directly — which were quoted in The Irish Press on 8 January this year, that he intends to have one unified estuarial authority, all ports included, and he will knock heads together, if necessary, to get it. Can the Minister please tell me what heads he has in mind? Is it heads around the Cabinet table, heads in a particular constituency in this area or what heads is he talking about? The Minister is quite clear about what he intends to do so please do not be coy, Minister.

If I were to comment on behalf of any of my colleagues or indeed my Minister in relation to all quotes which are attributed to them, I think we would not have an opportunity of discussing this matter at Question Time.

Is the Minister saying that no decision has been made as to whether Foynes will be included in the new port authority for Shannon?

I will state categorically what I have already said, lest there be any ambiguity about it. It is hoped to submit proposals for a Shannon estuary authority for consideration by the Government later this month and the Government will then make a decision on the matter.

I suggest to the Minister that it would be totally inappropriate to include Foynes in any estuarial port authorities when his own party have vehemently opposed any such move by previous Governments.

The views of all interested parties will be taken into account. Meetings have taken place between the Minister, officials and interested parties, including those in Foynes. An open view of the matter will be taken and I am quite certain that the decision, when it is made, will be the right one for the estuary.