asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware (a) that vessels of Irish Shipping, Limited, discharge at the port of Dublin a large quantity of cargo which is then brought by road to Limerick City, (b) that, on the average, the dockers in Limerick City have work for only seven months in the year, and (c) that full employment at the port of Limerick would result if all cargoes intended for Limerick were discharged there; and, if so, if he will ask Irish Shipping, Limited, to use the port of Limerick to the maximum extent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Shipping—Ports of Discharge.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the method adopted by Irish Shipping, Limited, in deciding on the port of discharge of goods for import into this country.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
I am informed by Irish Shipping, Limited, that the port of discharge of cargoes is determined by the requirements of importers, taken in conjunction with normal commercial considerations and with the availability of adequate portal facilities. This is, of course, the general shipping practice and is a matter of day-to-day company administration in which it would not be appropriate for me to intervene. Any representations the Deputy may wish to make in the matter should be addressed directly to the company.