The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kelly hosts E.U. Foynes briefing
SEÁN Kelly MEP and Leader of Fine Gael in the EU Parliament has hosted a meeting between Shannon Foynes Port representatives and EU policymakers in Brussels.
At the meeting the EU representatives were briefed on various developments at the port including the situation regarding the planned new road to link the port with Limerick via the Adare bypass, a project that is seen as critical to the future growth of the port.
At the meeting last Wednesday Mr Kelly was joined by Pat Keating, CEO of Shannon Foynes in updating key lawmakers in Europe on progress on the aim to harness the port’s massive potential as a 24-hour deep water facility and a designated core port in the Trans European Transport Network shipping network.
“Shannon Foynes Port is a huge asset to Europe in terms of a natural deep water port and we want it upgraded to corridor status,” said MR Kelly.
“For that to happen, a new road connecting the port to Limerick, through the Adare bypass, is required. This has been given the go-ahead in Ireland now. Today’s meeting is an opportunity to update EU lawmakers on that and other aspects of the project,” Mr Kelly said.
“This project is very important to Limerick and the mid-west region and to Ireland as a whole. Indeed, it is even more important in the aftermath of Brexit in order to reduce Ireland’s dependency on trans-UK road transport,” Mr Kelly following the meeting.
Other attendees included MEPs, European Commission officials, and representatives from the European Investment Bank, the Federation of European Port Operators and Private Terminals, the Irish Maritime Development Office and the Department of Transport.
Foynes handles more than €7 billion in trade annually, according to a report based on 2014 figures from SFPC and 31 companies using it. Shannon Foynes Port Company and its customers plan to spend €277 million over five years to 2019, which will support 3,372 jobs in the region.