Robert Troy
Question:449. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether it is appropriate and effective for the CIÉ group to manage Rosslare Europort. [28709/18]
View answerTuesday, 3 July 2018
Questions (449)
Written answers
The Deputy will be aware that Rosslare Europort is unique among the State-owned ports as it is not a stand-alone commercial company operating under the Harbours Acts, but is instead operated as a division of Iarnród Éireann.
The status of the port, and whether its current status potentially inhibits its development, was most recently considered in a strategic review, commissioned by my Department, and carried out by Indecon Economic Consultants.
That report concluded that the creation of an independent port authority would be extremely difficult, given the Port's complex legal structure. Instead, it was recommended that the port remain in public ownership and that the possibilities for increased private sector involvement be investigated.
In order to assist Iarnród Éireann's overall consideration of how best to move forward, the company then engaged consultants to assess market interest. The assessment was largely positive in terms of the potential for increased private sector investment in the port; however, it did identify possible implementation issues due to the complicated legislative basis of the port.
Following that assessment, my Department sought and received detailed advice from the Office of the Attorney General on the matter. That advice identified a number of legal issues with any such proposal and those issues remain under consideration by my Department.
Iarnród Éireann, which operates Rosslare Europort, is itself a subsidiary of CIÉ. Iarnród Éireann manages the port as one of its divisions. Rosslare Europort operates profitably and generated revenue of €10.6 million in 2017.
The Deputy may also be interested to know that Iarnród Éireann has advised that it has completed a commercial review of Rosslare Europort and will now prepare a business plan, to include consideration of the implications of Brexit for the port.
In addition, the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO), in conjunction with my Department, has been undertaking a study into the use of the UK landbridge by Irish importers and exporters.
The purpose of this research is to establish the volume of traffic using the UK landbridge at present, the likely consequences that Brexit will have on landbridge usage and the various alternative options that may be viable.
This piece of research is being finalised, is expected to be completed shortly and should inform the potential for the future utilisation of all ports, including Rosslare Europort.
Finally, I would add that I recently visited Rosslare Europort at the invitation of Minister of State Paul Kehoe and was briefed by the Europort’s management on the port’s commercial position.
This was a particularly valuable opportunity for me as Minister to witness the central role that Rosslare Europort plays within the economy of Wexford, and indeed the wider south-east, and to see at first hand its potential in terms of future development as a vital part of our country’s trading infrastructure. I am satisfied that Rosslare Europort, as a division of Iarnród Éireann, is effectively managing operations at the port and looking to the potential of the port to develop further and take advantage of any new opportunities.