Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019
467. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects to develop facilities at ports and airports in order to enhance access to the European Union and the global community in the aftermath of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15453/19]
View answer469. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he is making provision for the eventuality of Brexit with particular reference to its implications for air and sea travel in view of the necessity to ensure easy travel access to continental Europe for Irish customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15455/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 467 and 469 together.
As an island nation, Ireland is entirely dependent on maritime and aviation networks for trade, tourism and the movement of people. Brexit has been identified as the Department’s highest strategic risk and the Department's response has been structured accordingly. While planning continues for both a ‘no-deal’ Brexit and a ‘central case’ Brexit, the Government’s preparations for a ‘no-deal’ Brexit have increased significantly in recent months.
While the full implications of Brexit for air and sea transport are not yet clear, I do not anticipate that direct maritime or direct air services by community carriers from Ireland to continental Europe will be affected, even in a no-deal scenario.
In terms of maritime travel and trade, my Department and other relevant Government Departments are working with the key ports engaged in direct Ireland-GB trade. The establishment of additional controls at ports and at Dublin airport that would be required in a no deal Brexit scenario is being co-ordinated by an interdepartmental group under the chairmanship of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with representation from a range of stakeholders across Government. The group has focused on three locations for which we are heavily dependent on connectivity to the UK, namely, Dublin Port, Dublin Airport and Rosslare Europort. The Office of Public Works has been tasked with delivering the required facilities for these agriculture, health and customs checks at these locations.
Airlines and shipping companies operate as independent, market-driven commercial companies and planning and preparations in the context of Brexit are operational matters for each. However, I am aware through consultations by my Department with shipping and airline companies that they are contingency planning, including for a no-deal Brexit.
Government also supports the development of air connectivity and the expansion of air services more generally through funding from Tourism Ireland for cooperative marketing activity. Cooperative campaigns with partners facilitate increased marketing effort and help promote the destination more widely. An increased budget allocation in Tourism Ireland for 2019 will continue to support both seasonal and regional growth and will be underscored by a commitment to focus co-operative partnership activities on the January-April and October-December periods for Great Britain and the North American and European markets. I encourage all airports to avail of this funding to optimise air services.
In relation to shipping, in the past shipping operators have responded to economic developments and increased or reduced capacity in response to market demands. Following a series of recent meetings with the major ferry companies operating at our ports, I am confident that shipping services can be expected to adapt to changing market demands that may arise and we have seen the evidence of this over recent months with the increase in shipping capacity on direct routes to continental ports. These services include the MV Celine which was last year launched from Dublin Port and will serve routes to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge and the MV WB Yeats, which will operate between Dublin and France. Additionally, a new ferry route to Santander in Spain commenced from the Port of Cork in 2018.
In relation to infrastructural requirements, the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 recognises the role and infrastructural plans of ports and airports in supporting continued enhancement of Ireland’s high-quality international connectivity. Key actions planned include a new runway for Dublin Airport, continued development of Cork and Shannon Airports, investment in Ireland West Airport Knock, and for smaller airports under the Regional Airports Programme. There will also be major development of Dublin, Cork, Shannon-Foynes and other ports, as well as investment in transport connectivity to ports.
