Displaying items by tag: Harbour (Amendment) Bill

12th June 2014

Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2014 Information Links from Department of Transport

#Harbours(Amendment)Bill- As previously reported the Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2014, recently announced by Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport (DTTAS) Leo Varadkar, will allow five designated Ports of Regional Significance.

The ports designated under the bill are Drogheda, Dún Laoghaire, Galway, New Ross and Wicklow which are to transfer to local authority ownership at a future date, in line with Government policy to strengthen local government.

These five ports play an important role through tourism, leisure amenity, and regional trade. The Government has decided that their future is best secured under strong local governance.

The draft legislation builds upon Minister Varadkar's ongoing reform of the State commercial ports sector as announced in last year's National Ports Policy.

On the Department of Transport (click for website), there is a copy of the General Scheme of the Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2014 available HERE and a copy of the Regulatory Impact Analysis is also available through this LINK.

During 2013 and early 2014 the Department conducted two significant consultation phases – the first commenced in August 2013 and the second in December 2013. The draft Regulatory Impact Analyses accompanying these consultation phases together with relevant submissions can be found using the links also available on the DTTAS website page as to above links given.

Among the copies of the letters published from the five ports is the request in full for the increase to Dun Laoghaire port limits which is contained within the consultation submission letter to DTTAS.

Published in Ports & Shipping

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.