I have received correspondence from an importer advising that certain goods are coming into the Port of Cork that cannot get clearance there and have to be transported to Dublin in order to get clearance. There is obviously a fuel cost and an environmental issue. My understanding is that the Port of Cork has made a submission to the Department looking for the facilities to be developed. What progress has been made? Is it likely that we can have all goods coming in to the Port of Cork able to get the clearance there to be used on the Irish market? I think the goods involved are from outside the European Union.

I will follow up in my own Department and look for the correspondence from the Port of Cork. We do not want goods shipped from Cork to Dublin. I will follow up and reply directly to the Deputy.