Tom Morrissey (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. Our ports are an essential element of our economic infrastructure, as they process 99% of the island's foreign trade. They are critical points not only for transport but also for the entire economy. Our economy is dependent largely on the proper operation of our ports. They operate at the interface between two different modes of transports. A crucial role of ports is to facilitate the movement of goods from sea to road and rail transport. Provision of adequate and efficient capacity into the future is, and must be, a crucial strategic Government objective.

Dublin is the most critical of all ports. It is estimated Dublin Port will handle cargo worth at least €45 billion this year. This is almost 35% of GNP. The port is estimated to support 280,000 full-time jobs and to cater for 500 million tourists with an estimated spend of €380 million supporting another 5,500 full-time jobs. Irish ports are crucial with Dublin Port being the most crucial. The Department's ports policy states, "Recent capacity requirement predictions point to a lower than previously anticipated shortfall". However, the Irish Exporters Association disagrees fundamentally with this assessment and I am gravely concerned about this.

It must be asked if the capacity predictions on which we are basing our plans are accurate. Are we putting the operation of critical economic infrastructure at risk? I refer the Cathaoirleach to the review of Dublin Port capacity launched by the Irish Exporters Association only yesterday. It was carried out by consultants and sends a clear message that Ireland's national ports are facing a capacity crisis. Without getting too technical, the review points out that load-on, load-off, or lo-lo capacity will expire in autumn 2006, roll-on, roll-off, or ro-ro capacity will expire by summer 2008 while bulk liquid capacity will run out by autumn 2006.

I do not presume that I have to labour the point beyond that. Those indications must be investigated by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Department of Transport as a matter of urgency. All the time, vessels are increasing in size and capacity, and space for development is not infinite. There is also a serious shortage of berthing space. That delays lo-lo arrivals, generating a further estimated cost of €750 million annually. All the while there is a 21-hectare site adjacent to Dublin Port waiting to be developed. The Irish Exporters Association report suggests that development of that site would solve the capacity issues at Dublin Port at a cost of only €35 million. It is therefore also seen as a cost-effective solution.

Let us be honest about why that is not happening. It appears that permission to develop the site is an issue. Such development requires foreshore approval. According to the Planning Acts, development includes reclamation of any land on the foreshore. Getting that approval seems to be the most difficult aspect. A decision to grant a licence to develop the 21-hectare site is, as far as I understand, being bounced between the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Dublin City Council. If that is the case, it must stop immediately. Responsibility must be accepted and a decision taken.

If it is agreed that development of the site in question represents the best and most cost-effective method of meeting the predicted capacity crisis, the Minister must make the decision. At least the Irish Exporters' Association and the Department agree on one thing, namely, that the time for developing facilities to meet capacity will be very long. The programme for Government states that, "We will implement an integrated transport policy, designed as far as possible to overcome existing delays, bottlenecks and congestion". It may well be that Dublin Port does not represent an existing bottleneck, but if the review carried out by the Irish Exporters' Association is correct, it appears that as an economy we might be facing an almighty bottleneck in trade on and off this island. We must investigate this as a matter of national importance.