asked the Minister for Transport and Power (a) what are the factors which have so far prevented Irish Shipping Limited from endeavouring to secure a due share of the cross-Channel trade; and (b) whether it is the policy of the State to enable and encourage Irish Shipping to secure a reasonable share of the cross-Channel passenger and freight traffic.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cross-Channel Traffic.
15.
The deep sea dry cargo vessels of Irish Shipping Ltd. are entirely unsuitable for the cross-Channel trade. They were not constructed for use in that trade.
It is not the policy of the Government that Irish Shipping Ltd. should enter the cross-Channel trade which is a different type of business from that in which they are engaged. This was made plain in statements made by the then Minister for Industry and Commerce during the debate on the Irish Shipping Limited (Amendment) Bill, 1959, in the Dáil and Seanad on 26th February, 1959 and 10th March, 1959, respectively, and by me in a statement which I made to Dáil Éireann on 10th February, 1960.
The general question of increased Irish participation in the cross-Channel trade continues to be under active consideration by the Government.
Can the Minister say what improvements, if any, have taken place since he took over as Minister in the cross-Channel service between Fishguard and Rosslare? Is the Minister aware that during the peak period there is overcrowding, that people are sleeping on the decks and are in danger of being swept overboard in their endeavour to come home to see their people? Would the Minister not give this his attention?
The Deputy was not in the House when I answered a question which made it clear we had given authorisation to CIE to negotiate with British Railways through the joint company established to run the shipping service there for an improvement in the service.
Yes, but there is no improvement.
In the course of last summer, there were additional sailings.
Day sailings.
Yes, day sailings.
But there is still overcrowding.
As I have said, we are doing our best to get an improvement in that service.
Our best is very poor.
Does the recent acquisition by Irish Shipping Limited of a share in a commercial shipping company involve any change in the attitude towards cross-Channel shipping services?
The cross-Channel service is of a different character from the continental service, involving a different class of ships and different procedures.
Is the Minister's Department doing anything about endeavouring to restore the Fishguard to Waterford passenger service?
The Deputy got an answer to a question about that the other day.
He was not, with all due respect to the Minister. That is why I stood up now. The Minister said he was doing nothing about it.
That is a fact. We are doing nothing about restoring the passenger service.
The Minister for Transport and Power is doing nothing about anything.
No function.