Ms Philomena Poole:

Two specific issues were raised, the first of which related to whether discussions had taken place with other ports. We have not had any direct discussions with the ports in question, which are much smaller than Dún Laoghaire Port. Our discussions have primarily been with the Department, which in turn has an awareness of the other ports.

On the question about any concerns we may have, the due diligence exercise being carried out by the transition group will throw up any issues about which one might have had a concern. It will also look both forwards and backwards in terms of what these could be. The considerable decline in income to which Deputy Harrington refers is, in large part, a result of the reduction in activity around the Stena Line. However, the emerging business models give rise to considerable optimism concerning the way in which the port operates and its benefits to the town.