James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Rosslare Europort has massive unrealised potential and has had for some time. That is true even more so in light of Brexit as a result of the increased requirement for direct ferries to the Continent in the event of the UK land bridge being lost and in the circumstances where 80% of our goods, by volume, to the Continent, go across the UK land bridge. The port generates €2.5 million profit per annum that is sucked out of the port and which could leverage sufficient funds to make the port viable and allow it to thrive. It would be a self-sufficient port if CIÉ and Iarnród Éireann would simply leave the money in the port.

We have seen reports coming out from Dublin, Cork, Dover and Bruges ports. Ports in the north of the Continent, the UK and Ireland have issued reports on how they will tackle Brexit and the opportunities and challenges that Brexit will create, yet we have not heard a peep out of Iarnród Éireann about Rosslare Europort. Where are the plans for the port? The port will be critical, not only to Wexford and the south east but to the nation. It is our primary roll-on, roll-off port. It is also the only port or airport that has a train station going into it. It used to go right up to the front door but it was moved by Iarnród Éireann for some very strange reason that no one can figure out.

I will be interested to see the publication of both the Irish Maritime Development Office report and the Iarnród Éireann report. There was a reference in the Indecon report to the fifth option and the potential of retaining it in Iarnród Éireann's ownership and potentially looking at outside investment.

5 o’clock

Everybody in Wexford knows that was code for Iarnród Éireann keeping its €2.5 million profit from the port while trying to find some outside investor to come in and squeeze whatever little extra it could out of it. That would be the worst of every world for Rosslare Europort. The port is making a profit and a system needs to be put in place to keep that profit in the port which can then thrive and have top class potential for the country.

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