Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, back to his alma mater.

Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I welcome to Minister to the Chamber. Obviously he has been here before and it is great to be back in the old Chamber of the Seanad. I requested that the Minister attend today to discuss the national strategy of promoting viable trade routes between southern Ireland and the Continent, which is a major issue at the moment when Brexit is taken into consideration, and how connectivity and trade routes can be improved. I am speaking specifically about such routes as the car ferries on the Cork-Swansea route, which left us many years ago, and the viability, in particular, of the French ferries, which are very important for our industries in both directions. Brittany Ferries runs a fantastic operation but it is seasonal and operates at certain times. It also operates another operation to the north of Spain which is also seasonal. Such connectivity is a major issue for a growing economy such as in Cork and how we can promote this kind of interaction between both France and Ireland to ensure that the seasonal element of the ferries can be extended to a year-round commercial entity.

This is one of the key issues for both tourism and connectivity. Not alone will that promote the trade in vehicles but will also provide for the transport of containers. At the moment if one has a container and needs to get it to the Continent, the Dublin Port scenario, unfortunately, comes into play. With the potential we have in Cork, in particular, we need to be looking at viable options for promoting Cork and its port and to then drive on to ensure that we have these viable trade routes.

This conversation is taking place in the context of the Brexit debate. The Minister is very up to date on that issue and has made some very keen statements in the last number of weeks on it. I need that reassurance that we have that strategy, that potential and have those trade routes under way to ensure that, as we are going forward, they will be a real part of our strategy in promoting the southern region of Ireland, in particular.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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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.

Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his comprehensive response on the issue of a strategy to ensure we have connectivity with the Continent from the southern Ireland region. It is about capacity, as the Minister mentioned clearly in his response. It is all about the capacity that will be provided, as well as the capacity that exists. Some of this capacity is currently coming through the Dublin Port but I believe we need to look at the regional spread of the capacity, whether it is roll-on, roll-off or cargo itself. The potential we have in southern Ireland in terms of geographical location and the manufacturing and pharmaceutical base gives us a real step towards building on that capacity so we can increase our trade links and, in turn, increase our capacity.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I accept what the Senator says. There is no intention to exclude any region in any way. The more capacity we have in this situation, the better. We will certainly consider the Port of Cork as part of that strategy.