Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 December 2020
217. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport if all the supports possible will be put in place for the establishment of a direct daily service from Rosslare Port to ports in mainland Europe for example, Le Havre, Dieppe, Calais and Dunkirk along with a daily return service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42588/20]
View answerSince the publication of the report ‘The Implications of Brexit on the Use of the landbridge’ by the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) in 2018, it is clear that there will be disruption to the GB landbridge when customs and border controls between the EU and the UK are introduced at the end of this month. Since the publication of the report, my Department, in conjunction with the IMDO, has been keeping the issue of direct shipping routes to the Continent under close review, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The IMDO recently reviewed the conclusions and recommendations in the 2018 GB Landbridge Study and in particular the issue of direct maritime connectivity and capacity to Continental Europe at the end of the transition period. The IMDO analysis shows that there is sufficient capacity on existing direct services in the RoRo network between Ireland and mainland Europe to cater, if required, for all of the landbridge traffic currently estimated at around 150,000 trucks per annum. The shipping industry serving Ireland have shown that they are resilient, responsive and capable, without State intervention, of adjusting to and satisfying market demand.
My Department has had very regular discussions with shipping companies and other maritime stakeholders about this issue since January 2019. We have consistently received strong assurances from the shipping companies that if there is an increase in demand for shipping capacity on direct routes to Continental Europe, they will respond. Additional shipping links were added on direct routes to Continental Europe even during the Covid-19 pandemic in Summer 2020, with further improvements and increases in capacity announced to take place starting from January 2021, including new RoRo (roll on roll off) services from Ireland to Zeebrugge, Santander and Portugal by CLdN. New LoLo (lift on lift-off) and Bulk services have also been added in the period. Increased frequency by Irish Ferries and Stena Line on the Ireland/Cherbourg routes from 1 January 2020 will mean that between them there will be a daily service available from Ireland to France. Brittany Ferries have also increased their number of sailings from next year.
Indeed, a new six-day per week RoRo service from Rosslare to Dunkirk was announced on 27 November to commence in January 2020. There will be three new vessels on the route with a journey time of 24 hours from Rosslare to Dunkerque, carrying around 120 trucks / trailers.
Such announcements reinforce the IMDO report findings about the willingness and ability of the shipping sector to adjust and respond to market demand.
The Government considers that direct State intervention to establish State shipping links in the context of Brexit would be likely to undermine a market response resulting in an insufficient, inadequate and costly intervention being put in place. Such an intervention would be almost certain to result in legal challenges from shipping providers already providing services to Continental Europe, would result in breaches of EU state aid rules and consequent requirements for repayment of the state aids with interest, with resulting adverse impacts on the viability of any companies receiving such aid. It could also create difficulties for the State in extricating itself from the shipping market.
As set out in the Government’s updated Brexit Readiness Action Plan, published on 9th September 2020, businesses are being asked to consider moving, in advance of the end of the transition period, to direct route options for the movement of goods from Ireland to the Continent, to avoid potential delays and the new procedures that will be introduced associated with using the UK landbridge. Shipping companies should also continue to assess expected future demand requirements and remain ready to respond to increased capacity demands, and all the indications are that this is happening
A communications campaign is currently underway, "ACT now and Prepare to switch", which encourages importers and exporters to focus on the direct route option now. This campaign encourages stakeholders to Assess their current routes to market, Communicate their future needs clearly to shipping companies, and Trial alternative services so that disruption to the GB Landbridge route does not preclude Irish businesses from accessing foreign markets.
My Department will continue to closely monitor and keep under review the evolving situation regarding maritime connectivity to continental ports and will remain in close consultation with the maritime sector and other relevant stakeholders, including importers, exporters and freight and logistics stakeholders, as we all prepare for the post Brexit scenario arising from January 2021.
