Fine Gael TD for Limerick Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed clarification he has received from the Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar at the Oireachtas Transport Committee that the National Ports Policy is not being changed by the Government. Patrick O’Donovan asked the Minister about the recent decision by Galway Port to apply for permission to redevelop their facility in Galway. He said that the Government’s National Ports Policy had identified Shannon Foynes Port Company as the only Tier 1 Port of National Importance on the western sea board and he added that it was important for the regional economy of the west and the mid west that the commitment to the designation of Shannon Foynes was maintained.
Leo Varadkar told Patrick O’Donovan that Shannon Foynes had a vital role to play in terms of the overall national port infrastructure and he highlighted the experience that the port has in handling bulk cargo. He said that Galway are entitled to lodge a planning application, however the Government had no intention of changing its policy or designation.
After the meeting the Limerick TD paid tribute to the board, management and staff of Shannon Foynes Port Company on the manner in which the Port was being developed and as a result the potential to create employment there. He said “What sets Shannon Foynes apart from all other ports in the west of Ireland is the depth of water together with the existing facilities that are available there. We need to ensure that it is put at the centre of the economic recovery of the region. As recent job announcements show there is great potential to see our ports used in a much greater way to create jobs. I want to see Foynes and the greater Shannon Estuary put centre stage in this and I welcome the restatement of the Government’s policy by the Minister.”