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THE GOVERNMENT IS exploring the possibilities of expanding operations at Rosslare Port to take advantage of opportunities that could be created by Brexit.
This week, Labour leader and Wexford TD Brendan Howlin called for Rosslare Port to be upgraded to a Tier One port to prepare for new trade and transport developments.
“Rosslare Europort is particularly well-placed for development, as it is the nearest port to continental Europe and therefore strategically important,” he told the Dáil.
He said that Dublin Port was “hugely focused on shipping to Britain” and if we wanted to shift “even a fraction of this trade to continental Europe”, then we should develop the port nearest there.
It makes no economic sense for goods to be transported from across Munster to Dublin, only to be shipped south within sight of Rosslare on their way to the continent.
He said shifting trade and transport activities to Rosslare would also benefit the environment by reducing carbon emissions.
In response to queries from Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin on the same topic, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross told the Dáil on Thursday that the status of the port and its development was reviewed recently.
He said that a consultant’s 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.”
Rosslare Europort is unusual in that it’s not a stand-alone commercial company operating under the Harbours Acts, but is instead operates as a division of Iarnród Éireann.
The harbour has four berths, and is mostly built on land reclaimed from the sea.
Rosslare is the second most strategically important seaport in the State after Dublin, and handles more unitised freight than all other seaports in the State, excluding Dublin, put together.
Unitised freight is important because all of the high added-value exports on which Ireland’s economic recovery depends are exported as unitised freight.
An assessment of the market interest commissioned by Iarnród Éireann found that sentiment was largely positive in terms of the potential for increased private sector investment in the port – but it did identify possible issues due to the “complicated” legislative basis of the port.
As a result of those concerns, Ross’ Department sought advice from the Attorney General. He also identified a number of legal issues with any such proposal which the Department is still considering.
Iarnród Éireann has also completed a commercial review of Rosslare Europort and will now prepare a business plan which will include the implications of Brexit for the port.
It’s unclear what exact trade arrangement there will be between the EU and the UK.
On Thursday, British Prime Minister Theresa May published a White Paper that outlines the UK’s proposal for its future relationship with the EU.
Among the proposals, it suggests establishing a free trade area for goods between the EU and the UK, which in theory would avoid a hard border. This would mean that the UK would have to accept all EU regulations on goods, however, as the EU’s chief negotiator has said that ”there is no justification for us to unravel what we are because the UK is leaving”.
The UK White Paper also suggested limiting free movement of people: giving preferential treatment to those who are skilled workers, or EU citizens.
RTÉ News has reported that the EU has warned its member states to step up preparations for a no-deal Brexit. In this event, it would mean a hard border would automatically go up on the island of Ireland. The EU had previously explored how much a border could cost, but won’t share figures on it for fear of entertaining a ‘no-deal’ scenario.
In other Brexit preparations, the Irish Maritime Development Office is also examining the volume of traffic over the UK landbridge, and the potential consequences that Brexit will have on Irish importers and exporters.
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The American military have dropped worse things on Japan.
@michael: Baseball?
@michael: so True, and “regrettable” who writes that stuff, regrettable is when you forget to get milk .
Why would they have to fly over a school? Also, where is the justification of having a military base outside of US territory?
@Andy K:
If any flight path had to avoid every school, hospital or any other place with a high level of footfall then we would have to stop flying altogether.
As for the bases outside of the US, the Japanese asked them to be there.
@Andy K: Kim Jong Un
@Andy K: the upcoming War with North Korea I’d surmise ?
@Thought for Food: Hmm, I did not know Japanese forces requested the US to stay there. I thought it was more like what happened in Germany where there was no peace treaty signed after WW2.
And I do not mean to stop every aircraft flying over schools, but a helicopter is a different scenario. They can easily change their flight path.
@Andy K:
Again, no they can’t if they had to for every school or other high traffic area. This is one incident out of tens of thousands of flyovers and there were no casualties. Statistically the cars driving past are far more dangerous.
As for the American presence in Japan, the US and Japanese governments signed an agreement where the Japanese would forego an offensive military and in exchange the US would provide military protection from external threats to Japanese sovereignty.
@Andy K: when a football team is playing another football team they’ll send scouts to the other teams training ground to watch them train before a big game. Id say it’s much like this
@Andy K: ah Andy. Uk, Philippines, South Korea, etc etc. Wakey wakey
@Thought for Food: that’s not really true. It is a forced occupation that Japan pays billions of dollars every year to the US to be there. At the end of the US occupation of Japan after WW2, the US changed that “land occupation” into a protective force that Japan has to pay for. Officially Japan requested it, but in reality it was forced by the US who can control access to the Pacific Ocean, and keep an eye on China.
@Thought for Food: now having said that, China claims the Okinawa islands as theirs, so if the US decided to leave that place, China would jump on it. Okinawa is strategically way too important to be left alone unfortunately. Control of Okinawa controls the access to the Pacific Ocean. I don’t think the US will never leave that place.
@Andy K: to defend the rest of you who won’t or can’t defend yourself. Bitch and complain you ungrateful whatever. Security is secured with blood and sweat. How about some of yours for awhile.
I wonder was it a new, clear window?
Of course they are taking it “very seriously “, those doors aren’t cheap you know.
@Larry Doyle: windows
Wasn’t “regrettable” the word used when paramilitaries killed, maimed or injured others than whom the incendiary/viable device was intended for? They never worked out that human beings are sentient, except maybe when a device went off prematurely in the bomber’s hand. And only of late are we realising that animals can feel – even marine life has feelings. Humanity – “a joke in progress.” And before someone says, “speak for yourself!” …I DO.
@Paul Jennings:
What about plants, do they not have feelings too?
@Nick Allen: Actually, they do. They can feel pain and they also react to plants nearby being injured or killed. There have been numerous studies and they seem to show that plants to have feelings.
@Nick Allen: well I take care of mine and talk to them even. They don’t also respond no matter how much t.l.c. I give them. In fact sometimes they seem to absolutely thrive on neglect. We don’t speak the same language. A bit like some of the women I’ve encountered. Self sentient primarily.
“Ooh,shut that door!
@gerry fallon: it’s the window Gerry.
Let’s hope the North Koreans don’t invade anytime soon with the keystone cops on this base.
It could have been a real pane in the neck.
“Regrettable”? Seriously?
Regrettable ? No shiiiit sherlock !!
A piece left over from WW11
New bomb. Glass
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