Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for the opportunity to address the House on this matter.

I would like to confirm that shipping services to and from Ireland are market-driven and that the market offers a diverse range of viable maritime routes in and out of the State, both to the UK and continental Europe. This is vital to facilitate both trade and tourism. Nationally, Ireland is well-served by ferry links to the UK and continental Europe. These links are frequent and competitive. There are currently a total of 79 return sailings from the Republic of Ireland every week direct to Europe and there are 257 return sailings every week direct to and from the UK. Shipping operates in a highly liberalised global market environment and the ongoing development of our shipping network has provided more competition, choice and frequency in accessing global markets.

Looking specifically at trade routes between southern Ireland and the Continent, the Port of Cork Company has been very proactive in seeking to establish direct routes to Europe. A new route from Cork to northern Spain was announced on 16 January 2016 and the first service commenced on 9 May 2018. This service is operated by Brittany Ferries, to which the Senator referred, and makes two return sailings a week from the Port of Cork to Santander. In addition, the port has a well-established weekly return sailing from Cork to Roscoff in France. The ferry can carry around 500 passengers and has space for 195 cars. The service provides more choice for freight carriers which can bypass the UK landbridge and go directly to Europe, which is important as Brexit draws closer.

The Port of Cork is currently undertaking major development works, including the construction of a new container terminal at Ringaskiddy. This work will enhance national port capacity and future increases in trade by facilitating larger vessels, increased tonnage and throughput.

In addition, the Port of Waterford has been very active in seeking to establish more direct links with the Continent. This is in keeping with its long-term plans for growth and future development. In July 2019, BG Freight Line, in partnership with Maersk, announced the commencement of new weekly lift-on, lift-off freight service on the Waterford-Rotterdam route.This acts as a deep-sea feeder route for businesses which are exporting or importing goods globally through Europe's largest seaport.

This service from the Port of Waterford provides a wider choice to Irish importers and exporters in the south east. Last year, Irish Rail and Rosslare Europort, an important ro-ro port, completed a report on Rosslare and approved a €15 million investment plan for the strategic development of the port. Shannon Foynes port is also currently engaged in a major capital expenditure programme to increase capacity. The port is actively exploring opportunities to develop new routes. The port is talking to businesses in the catchment area, to shipping companies and to ports on the Continent about the feasibility of new routes.

Brexit highlights the importance of connectivity from Ireland to the Continent. Shipping companies in the past have responded to economic developments and increased or decreased capacity in response to changing developments. In preparation for Brexit, some shipping companies have already commenced providing additional capacity on direct routes to Europe. CLdN launched a new €234 million ro-ro freight ferry, the MV Celine, with a capacity of 8,000 lane metres, on the Rotterdam-Zeebrugge-Dublin route in October 2017. CLdN has also introduced additional capacity on its direct route to Europe with its vessel, Laureline. In addition, Irish Ferries' investment of €150 million in its newest passenger and freight vessel, MV W.B. Yeats, provides year-round freight capacity between Ireland and France of 165 HGVs per sailing, or 60,600 HGVs per annum. Another vessel of similar size to the W.B. Yeatsis due to commence operations in the Irish Sea in 2020.