Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is never too late. The Minister for Transport and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, have been clear on the messaging to businesses to act now and to trial direct services to continental ports. The IMDO analysis is informing Government policy on this. Issues have been raised. I am anxious to make sure no stone is left unturned and all potential eventualities are catered for. For example, there could be significant difficulties with the land bridge, even if there is a normal Brexit as opposed to a no-deal Brexit. There will be issues. There will be a lot more around customs declarations and a lot more administration. There are a lot of issues there.

The IMDO says there is enough capacity on direct routes to continental Europe to take all of the current traffic from Ireland to continental Europe via the GB land bridge. Shipping companies are giving assurances to the IMDO on this matter and to the effect that if there is a demand for increased shipping capacity on direct routes, they will respond. They have indicated a number of options that can be quickly implemented by them if required, including using existing spare capacity, increasing sailings, redeploying ships and chartering vessels. Last week, we saw moves from Irish Ferries and Stena Line to increase direct sailings from Rosslare and Dublin to Cherbourg from January 2021. Departments and agencies have initiated a communications campaign to the sector, "ACT now and Prepare to Switch", to encourage importers and exporters to focus on the direct route option now.

Has the Deputy met the Minister for Transport? If not, we should organise that. I will ask the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, to meet the Deputy on this issue. She is raising issues that, from her perspective, are not satisfactorily responded to. I am anxious to get the issue brought to some resolution.

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