Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I take the Minister's point that the port's structure dates back over 150 years but, unfortunately, with Brexit looming, the uncertainty around the future of the port must be addressed. I refer to another issue relating to the south east, which I also raised in the Dáil yesterday. The region has the highest unemployment rate in the country, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office. Unemployment in the south east stands at 7.3%, which is 2.1% above the national average. The importance of Rosslare and Waterford ports from an economic point of view cannot be underestimated. Waterford Port has a great opportunity to move forward because it does not trade with the UK directly and is not in competition with Rosslare Port. It is important to make that point. We need certainty on the future of Rosslare Port in light of Brexit.

See this speech in context