#GalwayPort - Galway Port's ambitious expansion proposals are facing objections from Limerick - but a Galway TD has accused Shannon Foynes Port of trying to 'torpedo' his city's plans.
As reported on Afloat.ie earlier this year, the Galway Harbour Company lodged plans to significantly expand its existing footprint to compete for future shipping business, especially the new generation of cruise liners.
But according to the Galway Independent, that planning application resulted in a submission by the Shannon Foynes Port Company, which operates the west coast's only designated Tier One port.
The submission asserted the commercial aspects of Galway's proposals go against European and national ports policy, by failing "to recognise the hierarchical structure of ports at a national and international level."
But Galway West TD Brian Walsh has dismissed the Shannon Estuary port's complaints, hinting at sour grapes over Galway's "ambition".
The Dáil deputy, who was also a member of the committee that first pushed proposals for Galway Port's expansion, added that he “wouldn’t trust the [Shannon Foynes Port] company to assemble flat-pack furniture, let alone develop a state-of-the-art commercial port.”
The Galway Independent has much more on the story HERE.