Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 679: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his policy on ports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14106/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I see two principal aspects to my relationship with the ports sector. Firstly and most importantly given the crucial importance of ports to the traffic of goods and people into and out of this island, it is to ensure that we have a ports sector which can facilitate this traffic in as efficient and competitive manner as possible. This is essential to the economic well-being of the State, given the openness of our economy.

Secondly, as the share-holder either directly or indirectly in all of the state's ports, it is my intention to ensure that the assets are maintained and, where commercially viable, improved in and there is an appropriate return to the State through the payment of dividends. As shareholder, it is my policy that ports must operate on a commercial basis and that there will be no provision of operating subsidises and capital grants to port companies.

In order to ensure the achievement of these goals, my Department is currently preparing a new ports policy. The purpose of this is to ensure that we have a strong ports sector which is capable of developing appropriately in the long-term in line with the above framework. The consideration of the new ports policy is well advanced and in this regard I intend to meet with the ports and other relevant stakeholders shortly to discuss these matters in more detail. Following these meetings, it is my intention that a revised ports policy document will be published in the first half of this year.