Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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511. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has given consideration to the establishment of a subsidiary company under Irish Rail to operate Rosslare Europort to ensure autonomy of finance and retention of profits (details supplied). [48922/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I am not giving consideration at this time to the creation of a separate subsidiary company under Irish Rail to operate Rosslare Europort.

Rosslare Europort is unique among the State owned ports as it is not a commercial company operating under the Harbours Acts, but is instead operated as a division of Iarnród Éireann.  This is due to a complicated legislative history as the port technically forms part of an Anglo-Irish company dating back to the 19th Century known as the Rosslare and Fishguard and Harbours Company.

The status of the port, and whether its current status potentially inhibits its developments, was most recently considered in a strategic review, commissioned by my Department, and carried out by Indecon Economic Consultants.

Their report concluded that the creation of an independent port authority would be extremely difficult given the Port's complex legal structure. Instead, it was recommended that the Port remain in public ownership and that the possibilities for increased private sector involvement be investigated.

In order to assist Iarnród Éireann's overall consideration of how best to move forward, the company then engaged consultants to assess market interest. The assessment was largely positive in terms of the potential for increased private sector investment in the port; however, it did identify possible implementation issues due to the complicated legislative basis of the port.

Following that assessment my Department sought and received detailed advice from the Office of the Attorney General on the matter. That advice identified a number of legal issues with any such proposal and those issues remain under consideration by my Department.