Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A study prepared for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation for the Government by Copenhagen Economics in February 2018 indicated that Ireland is uniquely exposed to Brexit due to very high trade intensity with the UK. We all know two thirds of Irish exporters use the UK land bridge to reach continental Europe and in certain sectors the UK is an especially important market, not least for the agrifood sector, where over 40% of our exports are destined.

Given that trade costs will increase in all scenarios post-Brexit, it is really important that we look at alternatives and also look to invest significantly in our ports infrastructure. It is not just about the upgrading of our ports and we have been told by the Irish Road Haulage Association that up to €180 million is the estimate in losses arising from delays; every truck movement in a post-Brexit scenario will cost in excess of €40 per hour per truck. I have had communications from the chief executive of Drogheda Port, who has told me it competes with ports in Northern Ireland, where they are certainly getting Brexit-ready, while our ports are not. He told me the port needs massive State investment to provide the necessary infrastructure. It is happening on the Northern side of the Border but it is not happening here. We need to help ports like that in Drogheda, which is a very important public asset, with the necessary infrastructural development.

The Minister of State is familiar with my constituency and the road haulage sector is a major industry there. On the Cooley Peninsula alone, there are over 300 trucks serving the North-South corridor. Those people need reassurance and assistance. I would go as far as to say there is a need not just to invest in ports but to look at creating a third section of road on the M1 corridor in order to get people into the various ports along the east coast. Irish ports must receive the needed investment to accommodate modern, larger ships and offer swifter and more efficient services to continental Europe.

Our Government must be strong in demanding more investment through the TEN-T programme, as was mentioned already today. Brexit gives us the reason and the impetus to demand investment now rather than wait for the next review. The European Commissioner for Transport has stated, with reference to Brexit, that extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary actions.

Finally, Greenore Port in my constituency, a privately-owned port, is strategically placed close to Warrenpoint Port in the North. I have suggested previously that we should look at a special economic zone for that area. Given that one port will be in the British jurisdiction and the other in the Irish jurisdiction we should have some form of strategic hub with bulk bonded storage in the lough.

I must give way to my colleagues. We need to consider the ports in use in my county, the rat runs being used and the need to ensure the trucks stay on the major routes.

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