asked the Minister for Transport and Power if in view of the adequacy of passenger transport facilities between Fishguard and Rosslare Harbour for the Christmas season he will take all steps to ensure that such sailings are confined to the Fishguard-Rosslare Harbour route to safeguard employment at the port of Rosslare Harbour which suffered recently due to the cessation of container traffic to that port.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rosslare-Fishguard Sailings.
23.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to the chartering by a committee of Cork citizens of the s.s. Avalon from British Railways for one round passenger voyage from Fishguard to Cork on the 23rd December, returning to Fishguard on 25th December. It is open to anyone to operate shipping services to or from our ports and, accordingly, such services are a matter solely for the commercial interests concerned. I understand, however, that the s.s. Avalon was not employed on the regular Fishguard-Rosslare service and that the arrangement mentioned will not affect the normal passenger services to Rosslare.