Menu
-HOME
Baile
-DEBATES
Díospóireachtaí
-DÁIL DEBATES
Díospóireachtaí Dála
-SEANAD DEBATES
Díospóireachtaí Seanaid
-SEARCH
Cuardach
-ABOUT THIS SITE
Faoin Suíomh Seo
-LINKS
Nascanna
Previous - Lch. Roimhe Seo Up - Suas Next - Ar Aghaidh

Dáil Éireann - Volume 270 - 12 February, 1974

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Harbours and Piers.

32. Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Finance the reasons for the delay in commencing construction of a new harbour at Rosabhil, County Galway, from June, 1969, until commencement of the work in January, 1974.

Mr. Kenny: The period referred to by the Deputy was occupied by necessary procedures, that is, a boring survey taking until September, 1970; designing a scheme, until February, 1971; discussions with local and departmental interests, until October, 1971; the preparation of working drawings and specifications and their issue to the Galway County Council for agreement, until April, 1972; awaiting the council's approval, until 1st August, 1972; the invitation and receipt of tenders for the work, until October, 1972; and their examination and the definitive placing of the contract which was unavoidably protracted and occupied until January, 1974, when works commenced.

Mr. Molloy: Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree, now that he has stated the factual position to the House, that the Taoiseach had a hell of a cheek in Rosabhil recently when he stated that Fianna Fáil made a political football out of Rosabhil?

Mr. Kenny: I should just explain what the Taoiseach said. This proposal was first introduced in June, 1969, and from then until the time it was implemented in January, 1974, a period of five years and seven months elapsed. From June, 1969, until March, 1973, four years and nine months elapsed and the Deputy's Government were in power for that [406] time. From March, 1973, until January, 1974, we were in office for ten months and in that period we implemented what it took the former Government four years and nine months to do.

Mr. Molloy: Arising out of that totally dishonest statement from the Parliamentary Secretary which is most unlike him and unlike the manner in which he has been treating replies up to now——

An Ceann Comhairle: Could we have a supplementary question?

Mr. Molloy: The Parliamentary Secretary should be fully aware and should be honest enough to tell the House that the reasons for delays which took place were quite legitimate and that no deliberate delay was caused by any action of the former Government; that the scheme was redesigned following——

An Ceann Comhairle: We are having a statement from the Deputy. Question No. 33, please.

Mr. Molloy: ——a request from the fishermen. The Parliamentary Secretary should give the House the reason why the person who was first given this contract did not——

An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy may not make a statement of this kind. Next question, please. Deputy Molloy must resume his seat.

(Interruptions.)

An Ceann Comhairle: Deputy Molloy must resume his seat. This behaviour is uncalled for. Question No. 33.

Mr. Kenny: If the Deputy wants to play any kind of football I will play. It took them four years and nine months to do what we did in ten months.

Mr. Molloy: Tell the truth.

An Ceann Comhairle: Will Deputy Molloy please allow Question Time to continue and not be disorderly?

Mr. Molloy: That is all right, a Cheann Comhairle, but there was no justification for the allegation that we [407] made a political football of Rosabhíl, and when a person of the Taoiseach's prestige——

An Ceann Comhairle: Next question please. If Deputy Molloy cannot listen to the reply to his question he had better leave the House.

Mr. Molloy: I will not leave the House. The allegation was totally untrue and totally dishonest. I will get the truth. The Parliamentary Secretary has the truth on his files.

(Interruptions.)

An Ceann Comhairle: If the Deputy persists in ignoring the Chair I shall have to deal with him. I cannot allow conduct of this kind. Next question, please.

Mr. Kenny: Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for protecting me.

33. Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Finance if it is intended to carry out repairs to the dock gates at Cleggan Harbour, County Galway.

Mr. Kenny: While these dock gates are the responsibility of the Galway County Council a complaint as to their condition is at present being investigated.

34. Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Finance if he has recommended that a light be erected at Rossroe pier, County Galway.

35. Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the need for a light at Rossroe pier, County Galway; and the steps he has taken to ensure the erection of a light there.

Mr. Kenny: With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 together.

The question of the provision of a light at Rossroe pier will receive attention when an ESB supply is available close to the pier.

Mr. Molloy: The Parliamentary Secretary must be aware that that answer will not be very satisfactory to the fishermen because the electricity supply may never be available [408] in that area. Could he not give us some indication as to efforts his Department would make with the ESB to ensure that a supply is brought to the pier and this unnecessary navigation light installed.

Mr. Kenny: The supply is about one mile away and it is understood that the local people have requested the ESB to extend the supply as far as the An Óige hostel which is beside the pier. If the current were available at this point the cost of providing one light would be approximately £100 and this, I think, should be provided for them by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if it is going to benefit fishermen.

Mr. Molloy: Could the Parliamentary Secretary tell us the quotation received by the people in charge of the An Óige hostel for installation of electricity?

An Ceann Comhairle: That seems to be a separate question.

Mr. Molloy: It is astronomical. It will never go there.

(Interruptions.)

An Ceann Comhairle: Question No. 36 please. Let us make some progress. Let us deal with questions in an orderly manner.

Previous - Lch. Roimhe Seo Up - Suas Next - Ar Aghaidh