A Wexford Fine Gael Councillor took the Minister for Transport to task over the Government’s failure to create a single port authority for three ports located in the south-east.
The port authority, writes Wexford People, would be to manage and develop the ports of Rosslare Europort, Port of New Ross and the Port of Waterford (see, Suir terminal story).
Councillor Jim Moore addressed Minister Eamon Ryan during a face to face County Council meeting, where he also questioned as to why Rosslare Europort had not been given Tier One status.
This despite the backdrop of a 400% increase in traffic and trade at Rosslare Harbour which has taken place since Brexit.
The ferryport has routes to the UK and direct links to mainland Europe through Cherbourg, Le Havre and Dunkerque in France as well to Bilbao, Spain.
The Department of Transport was accused by Cllr Moore of “ignoring and refusing” to establish a regional port authority in the south-east.
“We have three ports under the jurisdiction of the local authorities, three ports doing three different things without a common approach. I think there is a structural defect here that has to be addressed. All of the other ports in Ireland are Tier One ports.”
Minister Ryan referred to an historic UK statute in regards to the ownership of Rosslare Harbour, in which Afloat adds dates back to more than a century ago.
He said that his officials had advised him that it would not be an easy issue to resolve and could be protracted.
More here on the Irish south-east ports.
