2008
Press Release
30 May 2008
Irish Exporters Association slams waste of Taxpayer’s funds on multiple Governmental reports on the future of Dublin Port
The Export Industry, struggling to remain competitive in supplying manufactured goods to world markets, is seriously concerned that the new Government is not facing up to the realities of our needs as a trading nation and the need for further development of the commercial capability of our key inter connector with world trade lanes – Dublin Port. Instead, as of last Friday, we have another Government supposed Task Force being set up to look at ways to close down Dublin Port.
John Whelan, CEO, of the Irish Exporters Association, stated;
“First we had the Government’s Ports Policy Strategy which allocated nothing to Port development, then came Dublin City Council’s Report on the future of Dublin Port which reviewed all the environmental aspects, then in March the Department of Transport announced a study of Dublin Port under the National Development Plan and now the Department of Environment has commissioned a Dublin Bay Task Force Study.
One has to ask - has the new Government taken any notice of the OECD’s recent report on the need for efficiency in the Public Sector?’’.
The IEA is disappointed that the latest report being commissioned by Minister Gormley last week will provide further doubling-up of reports on Dublin Port given that his Department is already involved in the steering group of the study of Dublin Port under the National Development Plan.
John Whelan went on to say;
“Not only is there duplication in all of these reports but the IEA is also shocked and amazed that important stakeholder groups are not being consulted.
For instance, the NDP study has excluded the Irish Exporters Association, other business representative groups, the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment and even the Port itself while including Dublin City Council who have already published their own views on the matter.
Not only is this replication a colossal waste of Taxpayer’s money but the ham-fisted approach of the exclusion of important stakeholders damages the integrity of the reports.”
The Irish Exporters Association is concerned that the plethora of reports on the future of Dublin Port is damaging Ireland’s reputation as a good place for exporters to do business. The complete lack of coherent thinking about this country’s most important trade facilitator is creating unnecessary uncertainty in the minds of international business at a time when we are already grappling with serious competitive challenges.
John Whelan, concluded by saying;
“We cannot lose sight that our economy is built on trade. To continue to compete effectively on international markets we need effective efficient sea ports. Our main port is Dublin - it needs to continue to be invested in for commercial trade development and we should not jeopardise our economic well-being by hanging our hopes on a pipe-dream of some other port being built at some other location at some point in time.’’
For further information contact:
John Whelan, Chief Executive, Irish Exporters Association
Tel: (01) 661 2182
Email: jfwhelan@irishexporters.ie
END.
About the Irish Exporters Association (IEA)
The IEA represents the needs of export industry ensuring that the necessary conditions are created and the necessary support is provided to assist companies to maximise their export sales. The IEA draws its membership from every exporting sector, ensuring that the interests of all industries are represented and promoted at the highest level.
www.irishexporters.ie
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