Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask that we have a debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Minister for Transport on our ports policy regarding the designation of ports for the importation of non-EU fresh produce. I ask this in the context of Cork Port, which should be designated as one of those ports that allows for the importation of non-EU fresh produce. Second, I ask that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine extend the provision of clearance personnel for fresh produce to Cork Port. Currently, they are only provided to Dublin and Rosslare ports. I will give an example. Senator Boyhan, as an agriculturalist and horticulturist, and Senator Lombard from Cork will be aware of this. Israeli carrots come into Cork Port and are brought up to Dublin Port. They are then brought back down the road again in a lorry, adding cost and doing nothing for the environment and climate action. There is a need for real reform in our ports, which fall under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Transport. I ask that Cork Port be classified as a designated port for the importation of non-EU fresh produce. It is coming into the country already. It is leaving Cork, going to Dublin and coming back down again. It makes no sense whatsoever from an economic, climate change or sustainability point of view. I ask that we have this debate. I requested a Commencement debate on this matter this morning. Unfortunately it was not selected, which is fair enough because I got one already this week but I will submit it again next week. We need a holistic debate on our ports policy because it makes no sense that Cork Port is not a designated port for the importation of non-EU fresh produce.