Dermot Ahern publishes key reports on Ireland's Commercial Seaports

Dermot Ahern T.D., Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources today (13th May) announced the publication of two important Government commissioned reports on Ireland's ports.

The Minister unveiled the High Level Review of Ports, which was carried out by Raymond Burke Consultancy, Posford Haskoning Consulting Engineers and Farrell Grant Sparks Corporate Finance. Minister Ahern also published the report of the Government established Port Estates Task Force.

The Minister said, "In initiating the High Level Review the Government was anxious to ensure that the existing industry structures are delivering a quality service provision that is competitive, efficient, effective, reliable and customer orientated. The Port Estates Task Force was established to assess whether Ireland's ports were making optimum use of valuable port estate assets."

Minister Ahern commended the authors of both reports for their thoroughly researched and comprehensive reports.

The High Level Review consultants outline their vision for the future of Ireland's ports and make recommendations from a number of perspectives including that of the shareholder, the Port Companies, Private Sector involvement, EU influence, Corporate Governance, regulatory and environmental matters.

The Port Estates Task Force examined matters dealing mainly with the ports and their properties. Among their recommendations are the need for ports to produce long term development plans, the need for a comprehensive audit of port properties and the introduction of designated Strategic Development Zones.

Minister Ahern said, "I believe that both publications will prove to be seminal reports in the history of Ireland's ports. I have therefore decided to publish the reports and place them in the public domain while simultaneously initiating a full public consultation process on their findings and recommendations. I want to be fully apprised of the views of all stakeholders and especially port customers."

The Miniser concluded, "I intend that the results of the public consultative process will feed into and inform future policy deliberations as to how we are to best manage and operate the ports in the future. I am especially interested to hear from Port Company boards and management, national representative bodies in the maritime transport sector, the social partners, community interests and individuals and people who depend on the ports directly or indirectly for their livelihoods.

Copies of both reports, together with a consultation policy statement by the Minister are available on www.dcmnr.ie or from Maritime Transport Division at the Department. Comments, submissions or representatives are invited from all interested persons, bodies and stakeholders before the 21 july 2003.