THE SALE of the State-owned Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, currently being considered by the Review Group on State Assets, would amount to “the disposal of the crown jewels” and should not even be contemplated, councillors in south Dublin have said.
They have also called on Dún Laoghaire’s three Government Ministers to say whether they would support the possible sale of the company.
Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company has been included in a list of 28 State companies that the Government-appointed Review Group on State Assets will consider selling in an effort to cut the €84 billion national debt.
These include nine port companies as well as the ESB, Bord Gáis, Bord na Móna, An Post and the Irish National Stud Company Ltd.
Economist Colm McCarthy, who led the body that recommended €5 billion in public service cuts last year, has been appointed chairman of the group. It is expected to report at the end of the year.
Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company was set up in 1997 and has responsibility for the maintenance and development of the harbour. It returned a profit of €3.8 million in 2008.
Members of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will debate a motion at their next council meeting calling for the exclusion of the harbour company from the review group’s list. The motion was tabled by Labour Party councillors Jane Dillon Byrne and Stephen Fitzpatrick.
Ms Dillon Byrne, who is also a director on the company’s board, said yesterday she was acting as a representative of local residents who were very concerned by the suggestion.
“This is an outrageous suggestion not worthy of consideration.”
She said the company was very successful and selling it would amount to the “disposal of the crown jewels”.
“People could end up being charged to walk the pier.”
Ms Dillon Byrne added that residents would never stand for the sale of such a valuable resource and suggested top earners should be taxed more instead.
She also called on three local TDs, Ministers Barry Andrews, Mary Hanafin and Ciarán Cuffe, to say whether they stood over the inclusion of the harbour company in a list to be considered for sale.
