Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Transport if the Government's study of Dublin Port has been completed; when it will be published; if he will bring forward a Green Paper on Dublin Port; if he has reviewed Dublin City Council's recent study on the future of Dublin Bay; his views on plans to move Dublin Port and develop a new residential and commercial development on port lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17341/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Development Plan provides for a comprehensive study of the role of Dublin Port, taking account of locational considerations, in the context of overall ports policy on the island of Ireland, wider transport policy, urban development policy, the National Spatial Strategy and national economic policy. My Department is in the process of recruiting consultants to help carry out the study. It is hoped to have the study completed within a six-month period. In October 2007, Dublin City Council published for public consultation a wide-ranging study of economic, amenity, recreational and environmental issues linked to Dublin Bay, including the port area. I am familiar with that study and I understand that the outcome of the consultation will be reported back to the Council. The study of the port under the NDP will take account of the findings of Dublin City Council's work. Dublin Port is a vital piece of economic infrastructure. In tonnage terms, it handles roughly 40% of the seaborne trade in and out of the State. In value terms it is even more significant. In 2006 it handled 79% of the State's RoRo traffic and 62% of the container traffic. Clearly, the future role of Dublin Port is of major strategic importance to the country. It is much more than a local or regional issue and requires further examination at a strategic level. The study of the port under the NDP will provide this strategic level examination.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on all contacts he has had with members of the Shannon Foynes Port Company; his views on measures to address the alleged financial difficulties at Shannon Foynes Port; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17321/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I met the Chairman of Shannon Foynes Port Company on 3 March 2008. I have also been in correspondence with the Company over the past year. Department officials have represented me at the 2007 Annual General Meeting of the company on 10 July 2007 and the 2008 AGM on 2 May 2008. Officials have also had a number of meetings with the company over the past year. On 23 April last, in advance of the 2008 AGM, my Department met with the interim CEO of the company and the vice Chairman of the company. In 2006 and 2007 the company was party to a number of related legal disputes. In October 2007, an out of court settlement was reached between the parties. Following the settlement, my Department considered the financial position of the company and has further reviewed the accounts for 2007 in the context of the recent AGM. This has provided some reassurance that the company is addressing its financial difficulties, while continuing to operate and develop the business. My Department will continue to closely monitor the financial situation of the company.