Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Rosslare Europort is one of Ireland's most important pieces of infrastructure, particularly in the context of Brexit. In the early 1900s, the British constructed Rosslare Port having identified its strategic location as being the most accessible and closest in terms of distance to mainland Europe and the UK. Despite its strategic importance, successive Governments have failed or neglected to make proper investment in this country's most strategic port. Politicians holding senior political posts in various Governments flooded poorly located ports with millions of euro, all in the interests of political personal gain. Foynes, Cork and Dublin ports have all been beneficiaries of that strategy, to the detriment of Rosslare. Government politicians representing the constituency of Wexford have, for decades, engaged in the PR stunt of advocating the case for the investment at Rosslare Europort while privately, within their own political circles in Dublin, accepting that no such investment will ever happen because of the red herring of the ownership issue.

Since the advent of Brexit, traffic at the port has increased by in excess of 450%. We are all still at level 5 lockdown, which we hope will end soon, but there has been traffic congestion in Wexford, particularly in Oilgate. However, when we get to the summer months and the level 5 lockdown restrictions abate, from Rosslare to Oilgate will undoubtedly be more congested and that will inevitably cause delays. On Monday in the Seanad, a Fianna Fáil Senator asked a Fine Gael junior Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, for a timeline on the completion of the M11 motorway from Oilgate to Rosslare Europort. The Minister of State indicated a timeline of eight to 13 years depending on the availability of funding. In light of the consequences of Brexit, such a timeline is completely unacceptable. We need less of the PR babble and more action. What is needed is for someone to take this combined scheme by the scruff of the neck, complete the M11 from Oilgate to Rosslare and upgrade the infrastructure of Rosslare Europort to facilitate Ireland's import and export trade. The State has engaged professionals on two occasions to decide the route of the motorway, costing taxpayers double what it ought to have cost.

Has the Government no foresight? It took the arrival of Brexit for it to realise that Rosslare Europort is Ireland's most valuable and neglected piece of infrastructure, yet not one shilling has been forthcoming. There has been a 450% increase in traffic at the port since 1 January. The whole industry knew that would materialise, with the exception, it seems, of those in the Department of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and others who compiled the Irish Maritime Development Office, IMDO, report. Where is the Government's leadership? Where is the foresight that will see Rosslare as the country's main offshore wind farm and construction port? We need leadership and decision making, to be followed by the money.

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