Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the efforts being made to encourage operators to increase direct shipping routes from Ireland to continental Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1104/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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It has been clear for some time there would be disruption to the GB landbridge when customs and border controls between the EU and the UK were introduced at the end of the Brexit transition period.  My Department, in conjunction with the IMDO, has been keeping the issue of direct shipping routes to the Continent under close review both in the context of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.

My Department, along with the IMDO and other key Departments, undertook a major communications campaign in the run up to 1st January 2021, urging business using the UK landbridge to consider a switch to direct routes to avoid disruptions due to the new control regimes.  

Since January 2019, my Department has had very regular discussions with shipping companies and other maritime stakeholders about the issue of maritime connectivity.  In that time, we have consistently received strong assurances from the shipping companies that if there is an increase in demand for shipping capacity on direct routes to Continental Europe, they would respond. 

Additional shipping links were added on direct routes to Continental Europe even during the Covid-19 pandemic in Summer 2020, including new RoRo services from Ireland to Zeebrugge, Santander and Portugal by CLdN.

In the run up to the end of the Brexit transition phase on 31 December 2020, the shipping companies further responded to changing demands with additional capacity on direct Ireland/France routes through a combination of increased frequencies, larger vessels and new services, including:

- Irish Ferries and Stena changing their schedules to minimise overlapping so that a daily RoRo services from Ireland to Cherbourg is being provided from 2 January 2021

- Stena Line moved an additional ship on to the Rosslare to Cherbourg route, doubling their capacity and frequency of sailings from January 4th.

- DFDS new service from Rosslare to Dunkirk commenced on 2 January 2021. There are six weekly departures from each port with a crossing time of 24 hours and capacity for up to 125 HGVs; and

- CldN added a second weekly call from Cork to Zeebrugge to cope with the increasing demand on this route.

The additional services introduced to northern France, which include the Stena Foreteller to Cherbourg and the DFDS/EURoRo service to Dunkirk, adds a further weekly capacity of roughly 2,500 units when unaccompanied trailers are included. There is also a new additional service from Cork to Zeebrugge supplied by CLdN which adds approximately 300 units per week once unaccompanied trailers are included. 

Such actions reinforce the IMDO Report findings late last year about the willingness and ability of the shipping sector to adjust and respond to market demand.

Since 1 January, in light of the difficulties being experienced by businesses and hauliers with regard to the new customs procedures, my Department have been in contact with the shipping companies on a daily basis to monitor the situation with the assistance of the IMDO.

I also met with the shipping companies last week to hear first hand their concerns about the current situation regarding the difficulties being experienced by businesses with the new customs procedures and the impact on shipping services and to assist in resolving those problems where possible.   

Given the level of difficulties being encountered, we are also encouraging the relevant shipping companies to ensure that the services they have in place align with the changing demands of industry, albeit that this demand may be transient as businesses become familiar with the customs procedures into and out of GB and exceptionally low volumes return to normal on Ireland/GB routes. 

Some shipping companies have already responded with some temporary moves to address the situation, including Irish Ferries moving its largest ship, the WB Yeats, on to its Dublin to Cherbourg service and Stena supplementing its services this weekend, when demand is at its peak.  The companies are currently assessing what further options are available on a temporary basis to increase capacity on these routes. 

Based on current assessment, there is shipping capacity on the continental corridor from Dublin and Rosslare with the additional capacity coming on stream this weekend.  However, it is acknowledged that capacity for accompanied freight is under pressure and options to alleviate this pinch point are being reviewed across the system.   

I would encourage the ferry companies, haulage operators and businesses to work together, with Departments and Government agencies, to ensure the maintenance of the supply chain as the new customs requirements are bedded down.   This requires all parties to review the various options available across all modes of transport.