The task force in question was established under the chairmanship of Dr. John Mangan to advise me on transport logistics in connection with ports. It will examine the potential for, and prospects of, increasing the volume of port traffic transported by rail and the transfer of port generated freight traffic from road to rail. This will include the development of rail head facilities at existing ports, transport of freight across transport modes by night and traffic diversion by rail and pipeline, including relocation of oil tank farms, to other less congested ports outside Dublin.
The task force will also seek to identify other imaginative proposals to reduce congestion and make port access and egress more efficient. It will identify cost effective options for the movement of port-related traffic through Dublin and the possibility of transferring non-essential activities away from the commercial sector. In addition to these specific tasks, the group will be free to advise on any aspects of transport logistics in connection with ports which they feel merits comment and will take into account various reports and international experience. In an effort to consult as widely as possible, it has placed advertisements in the national media inviting submissions from interested parties.
The membership of the group announced to date comprises: