Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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180. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the recent resignations of senior executives at a company (details supplied) in October 2025 and any other departures since April 2024; if he will outline the reasons given for each resignation, any associated settlement or severance agreements, and his assessment of their impact on the company’s operational stability and corporate governance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60595/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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181. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to publish the most recent internal and external audit reports for a company (details supplied) for the period April 2024 to October 2025; if any findings were made in relation to financial irregularities, governance weaknesses, or unapproved expenditure; the corrective measures which have been taken by his Department in light of the reported 8% fall in operating profit for 2024 despite increased turnover, including any connection between these figures and costs associated with the seized vessel MV Matthew; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60596/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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182. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to set out the full process followed for the appointment of a person (details supplied) in November 2024; if an open competition was conducted in accordance with public appointments protocols; whether any board member declared a conflict of interest; the consideration given by his Department to issues raised in the ongoing High Court proceedings taken by former CEO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60597/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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183. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide a breakdown of all funding allocated to a company (details supplied) since April 2024, including the €38.4 million Connecting Europe Facility grant, €99 million announced in Budget 2025 for offshore renewable energy port expansions, €88.5 million for the Ringaskiddy container terminal, and the €6 million tender for Tivoli terminal renovations; to outline progress, timelines, and cost variances; the financial oversight mechanisms his Department has in place to ensure value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60598/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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184. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide a record of all communications, meetings, and correspondence between his Department (including those held by former Minister Eamon Ryan TD and any Ministers of State) and a company (details details) since April 2024, particularly in relation to financial performance, project governance, offshore renewable infrastructure, and Irish Port Safety Week; if his Department has expressed any concerns to the company about governance, accounting, or management practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60599/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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185. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide a detailed report on a company (details supplied) 2025 cruise operations, including the total number of vessel calls (90 in Cork and 13 in Bantry Bay), total passenger throughput (over 170,000), estimated economic contribution to the Cork region, and any plans to expand cruise infrastructure in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60600/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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186. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has sought or received a full list of the current members of the Board of a company (details supplied) together with details of their corporate directorships, shareholdings, or external business interests; if all such interests have been declared in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies; if any potential or actual conflicts of interest have been identified or investigated in respect of any board member or their immediate family; if he is fully satisfied that no such conflicts presently exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60601/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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187. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total expenditure by a company (details supplied) on legal services and related professional advice since November 2023, including payments for legal representation of individual executives or board members, fees associated with protected disclosures, costs relating to non-disclosure agreements, settlements, or independent legal advice to employees or directors; the number of law firms or barristers engaged either directly or indirectly by the company in that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60602/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 to 187, inclusive, together.

The appointment of the Chief Executive Officer ('CEO') to the Port of Cork Company ('PoCC'), a State-owned commercial port under my remit, was made in 2024 in accordance with applicable legislation and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016 ('the Code of Practice'), with terms and conditions for the role approved by the then Minister for Transport and sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation ('DPER').

Recruitment for the position of CEO for the PoCC was undertaken by the company’s Board of Directors by way of open competition, facilitated by an external recruitment specialist. As outlined in section 35 (3) of the Harbours Act 1996, as amended, it is the directors of the company who appoint the CEO after consultation with the Minister. In keeping with the legislative requirements, the Minister has no further role to play in the appointment.

With reference to High Court proceedings taken by the former CEO, I am not in a position to comment on ongoing legal matters.

In accordance with the Code of Practice, the delivery of good governance standards across all aspects of the Port’s activities is primarily a matter for the Board, with my Department providing oversight to ensure good governance is achieved across a broad range of activities, including the process around CEO appointments. My Department is in regular contact with the company and monitors any such issues. In accordance with the requirements set out in the Code of Practice, my Department maintains regular and structured engagement with the State-owned commercial ports, through quarterly shareholder meetings.

Any conflicts of interest, whether real or perceived or issues of concern that arise are a matter for the Board of the company to evaluate in compliance with the Governance Code of Conduct adopted by the Board.

In making appointments to State Boards under my remit as Minister for Transport, my Department operates in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Guidelines (www.publicjobs.ie/restapi/documents/2014_1125_Guidelines_Appointments_to_State_Boards.pdf) on appointments to State Boards, including requiring a declaration of Conflict of Interest as part of my appointment letter for directors. A full list of the current members of the Board of all commercial and non-commercial State bodies under my remit can be found at: membership.stateboards.ie/en/department/Department%20of%20Transport/

Disclosures in relation to certain categories of expenditure are published in the PoCC’s Annual Report and Financial Statements in keeping with the Business and Financial Reporting requirements of the Code of Practice. However, any arrangements, including payments for legal services related to the port or matters concerning the representation of individual employees, executives, or board members, fall within the remit of the company’s Board. My Department would have no role in these arrangements or decisions.

It should also be noted that my Department Officials consistently uphold strong communication channels with the State-owned commercial ports at all times. The State-owned commercial port companies are independent commercial entities and each company organises its work and commercial practices according to its own requirements. Operational matters are solely a matter for the port company concerned and I, as Minister, am precluded from interfering in the performance of a company of a statutory function conferred on it by the Harbours Act 1996, as amended. The State-owned commercial ports have Audit and Risk Committees and an Internal Audit Unit (or appropriate external expertise), in line with Section 7 of the Code of Practice. Documentation such as audit documents are considered internal records, and State-owned commercial ports are not required to submit these to my Department, however, any findings of concern are brought to my Department's attention through appropriate channels. I am not aware of any current concerns in this regard.

As per the National Ports Policy 2013, State-owned commercial ports do not receive Exchequer funding. These entities operate as self-financing commercial businesses and are expected to fund infrastructure and development projects through their own revenues, borrowings, EU grant funding, or private sector investment. Consequently, all capital expenditure at State-owned commercial ports is undertaken without recourse to the Exchequer.

The PoCC has undertaken significant investment at Ringaskiddy to enhance Ireland’s maritime infrastructure, subject to strict government oversight and consent processes. The Cork Container Terminal ('CCT'), which opened in 2022 at a cost of €94 million, was supported by European Union Connecting Europe Facility ('CEF') funding alongside bank financing. In Q2 2024, PoCC secured €38.42 million from the EU CEF fund for its two-berth development at Ringaskiddy, representing 30% of total project costs. This development includes a 200 metre extension to the existing container berth and the construction of Ringaskiddy West – Deepwater Berth Extension (DWB), adding 182 metres to the current deepwater berth. Both berths will be equipped with onshore power supply infrastructure to support sustainability goals.

To finance the remaining costs, PoCC established a Special Purpose Vehicle, which entered borrowing facilities totalling €99 million, comprising €88.5 million from the Irish Strategic Investment Fund ('ISIF') and up to €10.5 million from PoCC. These borrowings and funding arrangements were reviewed by my Department and consent was issued as required under the Harbours Act.

Under new EU decarbonisation regulations, all Tier 1 EU ports are mandated by 2030 to provide Onshore Power Supplies ('OPS') to enable vessels to ‘plug in’ to electric power while they are at berth. The regulations include Cruise vessels. Under the regulations, PoCC is required to provide this infrastructure at the dedicated Cobh Cruise Terminal. At its October 2025 Board meeting, the Board approved a tender process for the appointment of Multi-Disciplinary design consultants to provide full design consultancy services for preliminary design, detailed design, procurement, construction and handover phases for the planned OPS works at the Cobh Cruise Terminal.

In general, cruise operations at the State-owned commercial ports are overseen as part of the routine operational responsibilities of individual port companies. Commercial arrangements are negotiated directly between the port company and the cruise operator. Information on scheduled cruise operations is published on the respective port websites. Please see the table below of Cruise Operations statistics for PoCC and Bantry for 2024 and 2025 as provided by PoCC. Any enquiries for further information should be made directly to the port.