Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 10 May 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport

Ports Development: Discussion

Mr. Barry O'Connell:

One of the Minister's concerns was about what I have just described, that is, how the demand forecast can be this and then go to that level. I think the Minister was also connecting that to the level of consumption domestically. I think we have addressed that quite comprehensively now and we have done so objectively because it was important for us to know as well that we had an objective and fresh, up-to-date view. The other particular dynamic which is really important there is the extent to which the port is responsible for exports. When you look at future expansion, it is not based just on the fact that our population will grow by 20% and we are becoming more affluent as a nation and, therefore, average consumption is going up as well. A large, if not the largest, part of that is driven by the potential for export to the international market and the opportunity there is on a cap. That was one, and there-----

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