Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 September 2018
39. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether there should be an extraordinary review of Ireland's TEN-T network in view of Brexit and Ireland's changed economic and demographic situation; if he has made representations on this matter at European level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37871/18]
View answerMy Department is liaising with the European Commission in relation to the TEN-T network in the context of Brexit and has raised Ireland’s concerns about the implications for connectivity and trade in light of the UK's decision to leave the EU.
Indeed the European Commission has also taken steps to prepare for this and has published a proposal to amend Regulation (EU) No 1316/2013 with regard to the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, whereby the EU North Sea Mediterranean Corridor would be re-aligned in order to ensure Ireland’s continued connectivity to the rest of the continental part of the Corridor. While Ireland is in favour of the UK remaining on this Corridor and part of TEN-T, if that is not possible, we support the Commission’s preparations as this will ensure that the integrity of the Corridor is maintained, and that Ireland is not geographically isolated from the rest of the Corridor post Brexit. In a meeting with the European Commission earlier this month on this proposal, officials of my Department again raised the need for a review of the TEN-T network as a result of Brexit.
My Department will soon make a submission to the European Commission in respect of the TEN-T network, taking account of the implications of Brexit, the current National Development Plan and National Planning Framework.
In June, I met Professor Peter Balazs, the EU Coordinator for the North Sea Mediterranean Corridor, and Mr Brian Simpson, the EU Coordinator for Motorways of the Sea, where I raised concerns about the potential impact of Brexit on Ireland’s connectivity and peripherality.
In addition, the European Commission in July published a proposal for a new Regulation for the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the funding instrument for TEN-T, to come into effect from 1 January 2021. At the request of my Department, the Annex to the draft proposal provides for an extension of the Core Belfast – Dublin - Cork TEN-T Corridor to include the port of Shannon Foynes and also, on cross-border sections of the comprehensive network, to include sections of the cross-border Dublin – Strabane – Letterkenny comprehensive road.
