Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today is a say day for Dún Laoghaire. Stena Line announced that it will not be renewing its Dún Laoghaire Harbour ferry contract, which expires on 14 April next. This marks the end of over 20 years of Stena Line ferry sailings to Dún Laoghaire. It is truly the end of an era for Dún Laoghaire. Passenger sailings from the harbour span almost two centuries. Like thousands of others in this country, I have memories of aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters and neighbours emigrating to England and from there on to the US.

Up until recent days, the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company and Stena Line had engaged in active discussions on the delivery of a seasonal service. This morning, Stena Line has advised that it is unable to secure a suitable smaller vessel and has now decided not to resume operations on this route. It will consolidate its business interests in Dublin Port. That is all very well for Dublin Port, but what about Dún Laoghaire? The harbour was designated for marine leisure tourism by the Government in March 2014 and yet has seen nothing happen. There is no definitive legislative framework underpinning the harbour being taken under the administrative remit of the local government. When is this going to happen? When will we see this Bill published? It is now imperative.

Dún Laoghaire Harbour has been left adrift today. Although it is one of the most beautiful harbours in Ireland, there are no plans for its future survival. There are jobs to be sustained, while a tourism and business industry has been left wanting. I recognise that in recent years there has been a declining demand for its ferry services, but we must work to ensure the continued success of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company. We need to find solutions and stop dithering. I urge the Minister to set up a task force immediately in response to today's announcement by Stena Line.

On the plus side, there are emerging commercial activities on the horizon such as the growing cruise ship business. Dún Laoghaire Harbour badly needs Government support. This year it will attract 100,000 cruise ship passengers and crew. The numbers have grown significantly since 2011 when there were no such passengers. In 2013 there were 19,951, while in 2015 we will have 100,000 registered passengers. This business has beendeveloped through collaboration and the downright hard work of the board of the harbour company, the Dún Laoghaire Business Improvement District and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, with little support from other Government agencies. A planning application for a new berth for the next generation of cruise ships has only recently been submitted to An Bord Pleanála and we await its decision. The growing cruise ship business will have significant economic spin-off value for Dún Laoghaire and Ireland. It will showcase the country to 100,000 tourists. Following the loss of Stena Line, it is crucial that the application for the new cruise ship berth be given strong consideration.

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