Mr. Barry O'Connell:

In my previous profession, I ran fairly complex manufacturing and logistics operations, so I know that when you are looking at logistics, you are looking at the shortest possible point from A to B and the least amount of handling. That tends to reduce time, reduce costs and reduce carbon. Now, what we have in the infrastructure of the port and surrounding the port, because you cannot help but link the port to the M50 and the port tunnel, those three pieces of infrastructure are absolutely linked to one another and have been a huge success. That is why 73% of everything into and out of the port emanates from within 90 km. It is also why, if you look at how the market has responded to that, there are large distribution and logistics hubs all around the M50, because that is the most efficient way of transporting goods in and out of the port. As for any mention of moving the port, then, you would almost have to cut and paste the infrastructure which supports that, given the volumes we are speaking about. We have addressed, constructively and positively, the need for expanded capacity on the east coast beyond 2040.

We flagged the fact that given how long these things take, if only evidenced by the 3FM project, that needs to happen now and in any way we could we would be supportive of that.