Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. We need to ensure that not only is Ireland's economic growth increasing but that it is spread equally across the country to areas such as west Cork. Our ports, including the ports in Cork, are vital to our economic growth. We need to maintain strong competitive transport links with the rest of the EU to secure Ireland's economic future. Two thirds of Irish exporters use the UK land bridge to access Europe. Brexit will have a huge effect on Ireland's ability to use this route for export. We need to look at creating alternative export and import facilities in Ireland. We have spoken about Brexit for quite a long time in the Dáil and, to be honest, we are no further ahead today then we were more than 12 months ago when it was almost sorted and resolved, but every hour it changes.

Up to now, the Government has failed to invest in Ireland's ports. Without investment in our ports we will not be able to take advantage of the new economic opportunities that would increase our economic growth. We look at the 2040 plan and we talk about what Brexit will do to it. What the Government has envisaged in its 2040 plan for west Cork is scandalous. There is absolutely nothing in it for the people of west Cork. We have been overdependent on Dublin Port as an nation. We need to look at other ports. We need to improve funding for the roads to get to these other ports. Poor funding to date has left some roads in a shocking condition.

The , TEN-T, provides considerable funding opportunities for countries to improve their connectivity with the rest of Europe. The previous Government chose to exclude key infrastructural projects in its submission to the TEN-T network, thus preventing these projects from receiving TEN-T funding. The majority of these projects were located in the west of Ireland.

Coming from west Cork I know only too well how important ports are to us. In my constituency we have ports such as Bantry Bay, Castletownbere and Kinsale. These ports need investment and their futures need to be secured by the injection of economic and infrastructural development. The cruise liners coming into Bantry have been a major success over the past 12 months in particular and maybe a little longer. I plead with the Government not to make the same mistakes as the previous Government. It is vital these ports are supported through the uncertain times that lie ahead with Brexit on the horizon. Very seldom do I hear about the effects that Brexit may have on Irish fishers and fishing in general. Are European trawlers going to be chased out of UK waters if Brexit goes ahead?

If they are, we know well where they will come. It will be into Irish waters, which successive Governments have handed over too easily for the past number of decades.

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