Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I hope the ownership issue will be the last thing at which he looks because it is the least relevant. He stated that nobody could have expected the figures to grow exponentially from 1 January but I repeat that everybody in the industry expected that the figures would grow in that way. The only people who did not expect it, it appears, were those in the IMDO. I am glad to hear the Minister confirm that he is looking at this issue but a decision is needed imminently. There is a requirement for immediate funding of a few million euro to get this process under way and to determine that Rosslare Europort will be the construction base for the new wind farm projects that are about to be undertaken. We do not have time to spare in that regard. We have a small window in which to prepare for that; otherwise we will lose the opportunity forever. I do not accept that that can happen to Rosslare this time around.

The Minister spoke about balanced regional development. There has been absolutely no such balance up to now.

It is time that the Government sees the strategic importance of Rosslare Europort, puts its money where its mouth is and invests in the port. It will take a number of years to get us to a point where we can offer the infrastructure required in any port in this country so I ask the Minister to make the most strategic decision.

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