James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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287. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has met with management of CIE or the manager of Rosslare Europort for the purposes of discussing Britain's exit from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23624/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​While I have not met with CIÉ and the manager of Rosslare Europort specifically in relation to Brexit, I have had a series of meetings with the management of CIE and all three of its subsidiaries, where Brexit issues arose, as appropriate. As the Deputy is also aware, I hosted an All Island Transport Sectorial Meeting on Brexit in Dundalk on 23rd January which fed into the Brexit All Island Civic dialogue on 17th February to discuss the many possible implications of Brexit across all sectors. Rosslare Europort was represented at this forum. To the best of my knowledge, the manager of Rosslare Europort has not requested a meeting to date, however, should he wish to meet, I would be happy to do so.

In addition to the above, last month my Department held a Workshop on the impact of Brexit on maritime transport, regulation and on the sectors on which this impacts. Stakeholders, including Rosslare Europort, were invited from organisations across the broader maritime sector, such as merchant shipping, national shipping, fishing vessels, recreational craft, ports, equipment suppliers, service providers and training providers.

My Department is planning to conduct a study/ research into the use of the UK Landbridge by Irish importers and exporters.  The purpose of the research is to establish the volume of traffic using the UK Landbridge currently, the likely consequences that Brexit will have on Landbridge usage and the various options that may be viable. The results of the study are awaited.

As one of our key RoRo ports, the impact of Brexit on the use of the UK landbridge is of obvious significant importance to Rosslare, all the more so given its advantageous location in terms of potential direct shipping to Continental Europe.

The Department of An Taoiseach has indicated an intention to hold a further All-Island Dialogue in July and has asked that Departments consider further Sectorial dialogues and I and my Department continue to engage in this process to facilitate engagement with representatives across all sectors who wish to participate.