David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the office of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue and the Minister of State for being here this evening.

The Port of Cork plays a key strategic role in the economic life and development of the south and south-west regions. It is recognised as a port of national significance, tier 1. It is the Government's position that these ports are considered to be of national significance and must be capable of the type of port capacity required to ensure continued access to both regional and global markets for the trading economy. Indecon estimated the overall value of trade handled by the Port of Cork, based on modelling for 2012, 2023 and 2033 at €13.9 billion in 2012, growing to almost €28.7 billion in 2033. This supports 170,000 full time equivalent jobs, which will be doubled by 2033.

A border control post, BCP, is a designated entry point to the European Union market through which consignments of food, food contact materials, animals, feed and plants that are subject to increased import controls must enter the European Union. These import controls are carried out to protect animal and public health and animal welfare. These requirements include additional documentation and prior notification before arrival of the food to Ireland. They must enter Ireland through a specific entry point which is the border control post. All such products must be accompanied by a health certificate issued at origin and supported by a common veterinary entry document. There is a range currently of LoLo services operating between the European Union, the UK trans-shipment ports and the Port of Cork. Containers currently transiting through Dublin, therefore, could use feeder routings to Cork. A BCP in Cork could be an alternative, contingency and overflow facility should congestion arise at Dublin Port or Rosslare.

The construction of a new direct container service between Cork and the United States by Independent Container Line, ICL, would increase the number of boxes that would benefit from a control post in Cork. More than 2,000 containers have the potential to be examined at the Port of Cork and discussions with ICL support this estimate. New businesses that require BCP support face increased costs in trying to establish in Cork.

I am sure the Minister of State will be interested in the following point. More than 166 tonnes of pollutant emissions could be avoided if a BCP in Cork handled 2,000 diverted containers annually. Under current conditions, cargos of melons for instance coming to Cork from the Americas cannot be unloaded in the Port of Cork as they need to be checked at a designated BCP. As a result, the same cargo must go to Southampton, before being transferred onto another ship bound for Dublin. These are perishable goods so time is of the essence to get them off ships and onto the shelves. The reduction in the cost and time in delivering containers to companies now results in an additional cost of approximately €4,000 per container. Higher shipping costs have a negative impact on the consumer with higher end-user or purchasing prices. I ask the Minister of State in the short term to agree to the Port of Cork's request for a temporary derogation to be granted to customers upon application to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The derogation should last for a specific period of three to six months to allow the import of goods without disruption as many goods requiring BCP inspection are essential.

A temporary derogation would offer the Port of Cork increased flexibility that would encourage importers to use Cork. Therefore, the goods would land in Cork, be transported to Dublin in the interim and be inspected there.

In the long-term, the Port of Cork sees the construction of a permanent fixed border control post situated at the Ringaskiddy base as the ultimate solution. I am interested in the Minister of State's response to this. It is good for business, the country and the consumer. It is good for emissions and pollution. It saves time and ensures that the product that is perishable lands in a timely fashion.

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