47. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport his plans to publish a new national ports policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52083/26]

The review of the National Ports Policy is ongoing. A draft revision of the National Ports Policy 2013 was published for public consultation on 3 July 2026, together with the relevant environmental reports. The consultation documents are available to view on the Department's website. The public consultation will run for eight weeks.

The finalised draft will then go to Cabinet for approval later this year, following which the new National Ports Policy will be adopted and published.

I look forward to the same high level of stakeholder engagement in this second public consultation as was achieved during the first, which was based on a thematic Issues Paper. Over 70 responses to that consultation were received and carefully assessed by officials in my Department.