Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Rowe and Mr. Harkin. I also welcome the people in the Public Gallery and the many who are tuned in to these proceedings outside of the House. We have had a lot of correspondence in relation to this issue. I think it is the biggest audience we have ever had in the years I have been on this committee, so there is huge interest in the matter. Let us keep it all very simple.

First, I want to talk about what I call the living communities on the water. These are the people who, by choice, not accident, wish to have a meaningful living experience with family and friends on the water. I see no difficulty with that and we have to get over that blockage first, as it is a sustainable way to live. It is not everyone's choice but those who make the choice should be supported. Obstacles should not be put in their way. From reading the correspondence, there is a view that people feel frustrated in that process and feel that there is an issue with Waterways Ireland wanting to curtail that. Yesterday, I heard a comment on the radio in relation to some other tax where we cannot have additional costs and fewer services. For any charges that Waterways Ireland is seeking to implement, people need to know what they are getting for their money. We have heard about water supply, waste and reasonable maintenance. We do not want to over-maintain our canal banks, because that is not necessarily the right thing to do. They are rich in natural diversity, as well as the diversity of the people who live along them. This is all very positive, as far as I am concerned.

Many people have made submissions, for which I thank them. I received a very interesting document called "Protecting Dublin's Canal Heritage: A call to action to help preserve the city's boating access and rights", so it is about access and rights and people wishing to live on the waterways. The witnesses will recall I met them in Athlone some months ago at a public consultation, which I thought was well organised. There were various panels and people explaining different aspects of the matter. I think we may have gone backwards since then. I understood that there was a much more sympathetic ear from Waterways Ireland officials. I know Mr. Rowe and Mr. Harkin were there but they were not manning the panels, for want of a better word. I was led to believe that there was going to be compromise and meaningful public consultation and engagement with the stakeholders, or the users to which Mr. Rowe referred.

That is an issue.

There were a number of issues about which the witnesses undertook at the time to report back on, including in respect of the relationship with the local authorities with which Waterways Ireland connects. I want to put to them a flavour of the sorts of questions I, and I am sure many other members of the committee, have received. There are issues regarding jurisdiction with Northern Ireland. There are two jurisdictions through which the canals flow. There are issues around the governance of the board of directors of Waterways Ireland. Has a full complement of directors been appointed? When will they be appointed?

There are issues around the freedom of information, FOI, legislation. This matter has been raised with me. Has a regulatory impact analysis been conducted on Waterways Ireland's proposals? I am not sure if the witnesses do not understand what I am asking or they are a bit shocked or surprised.