Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Transport if, in view of the precedent created by an EU decision (details supplied), his Department will give similar consideration to the application of this precedent with the intention of providing financial assistance to enable the re-instatement of the Cork-Swansea ferry service which is vital to the development of employment, commerce and tourism in the southern region and in particular with regard to the designation of Cork city as a gateway city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15052/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Commission decision referred to by the Deputy related to restructuring aid for firms in difficulty granted by the French Government. The EU Commission, inter alia, decided that the notified restructuring aid constituted aid incompatible with the Treaty and that the aid must be recovered with interest. It is not the practice in Ireland to subsidise international shipping routes. I am informed that a commercial examination of the Cork Swansea route has been carried out for the Port of Cork Company. This indicated that, subject to procuring a suitable vessel, the service could be feasible on a year round basis. As Minister for Transport, I feel it is important that the market offers a diverse range of maritime links into and out of the State. This is necessary to facilitate trade and tourism. I hope that a commercially viable service can be resumed as soon as possible.