Dublin Ports Master plan consultation very timely, as EU Transport 2050 consultation also gets underway; state Irish Exporters Association (IEA)

Efficient maritime transport is fundamental to our economy. Effective transport systems are key to Irish exporters ability to compete on international markets. The continued stretching of the manufacturing supply chain across many continents is pushing up the transport content in many products, driving the need for Irish exporters to manage their logistics efficiently. However, increasingly shipping companies are being pushed into higher operating costs due to oil cost inflation, and sanctions to reduce emissions. Solutions have come in the form of larger ships which can deliver more freight with less fuel and reduce emissions .This in turn is putting new pressures on ports and the terminal and handling facilities they offer.

John Whelan, chief executive of the Irish Exporters Association stated;
‘’The announcement of the consultation on a Master plan by Dublin Port is very timely , coming as it does within a number of days of the EU Transport 2050 strategy being announced , which will require a radical rethink of how we manage our transport and freight activity . ‘’

Mr Whelan went on to say;
‘‘ In this time of aversion to capital project expenditure , brave decisions are now more than ever required by Irish ports generally and the main export port of Dublin in particular, to meet changing business and environmental demands , and ensure an efficient infrastructure is created to ensure exporters and importers can remain competitive over the next decade and beyond.’’

John Whelan went on to stress that the Dublin Port Master plan should strive to create a core network of transport modes all linked into a strategic framework at the Port , enabling an efficient cross modal facility for shipping , rail and road transport providers.

The IEA chief executive however warned that the last Dublin Port Master plan was bogged down in long term disputes between the different bodies responsible for foreshore license issuing and planning authorities, and he called on the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD to move now to amalgamate these functions of state into one authority to avoid a similar de-railing of the new Dublin Port Master plan.

On the question of funding the Master plan, Mr Whelan pointed to the array of EU funding support for this kind of development available under the TEN-T and the EU cohesion and structural funds, which Ireland had not been particularly active in accessing.

The IEA noted that the EU Transport 2050 strategy had ring fenced additional funds to facilitate multi-modal networks that reduced emissions, and eliminated barriers to sustainable transport efficiently.