Labour TD concerned at sale of Balbriggan and Skerries harbours

The sale of two north Co Dublin harbours was a scandal which should be resisted because they would be bought for knock-down prices by consortiums which were more interested in profit than anything else, a Labour TD has alleged.

Mr Sean Ryan (Dublin North) called for control of Balbriggan and Skerries harbours to be transferred to Fingal County Council, following a decision by the Dublin Port Company to advertise its intention to dispose of the two facilities.

However, the Attorney General has advised the Department of the Marine that the Harbours Act, 1996, does not constitute a legal impediment to the disposal of the two harbours, the Minister of State, Mr John Browne, told the Dáil.

He said that the agents for the sale of the harbours were dealing with a significant number of inquiries, and most of these had been for the two harbours together.

The Dublin Port Company, a commercial semi-State company which has responsibility for the facilities, has decided to offer the two harbours for sale because "they constitute a burden on the uses of the port as the company derives no revenue whatsoever from them", Mr Browne said.

"Dublin Port does not require ministerial approval to implement this decision, which has been taken by the board of directors of the company."

Calling for the Ministers for the Marine and Environment and the Dublin Port Company to reconsider the sale of the harbours, Mr Ryan said that the Harbours Act did not envisage either facility being put up for sale.

Mr Browne said his wish was that Fingal County Council would take over the harbours, but, contrary to what Deputy Ryan had said, he was led to believe that the council had no interest in the harbours.

Expressing his outrage, Mr Ryan said he had never envisaged that Fianna Fáil, "the so-called champions of the ordinary people", would facilitate the sale of Ireland's harbours.

He believed that access to the facilities by the general public on social or recreational grounds would not be guaranteed by private consortiums.

He feared there would be applications in the future for high-density apartments and marinas at inappropriate locations which would not be in the interests of either town.

He said that the local community demanded that they be given an input and that their views be taken into consideration.