Renewable Energy Generation
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-11
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Darragh O'Brien (FF), Dublin Fingal East

Ports will be critical. In the coming couple of weeks, certainly before the recess, we will be bringing the new national ports policy to Cabinet. A lot of work has gone into it, and fed in by stakeholders as well. The east coast will be very important on that. That will come to Cabinet and then we will publish it. That will go out for consultation and every party and all stakeholders will get to see it.
Right now, Belfast is the only port that one could say will be able to carry out both. Belfast will be important to the island of Ireland and I see it being utilised. Cork is well advanced as well. I have visited the Port of Cork on a number of occasions. There has been really good work on the extension of piers, and good assistance from the European Union in that regard.
I agree we need to increase port capacity for construction but also, really importantly, as the Deputy mentioned, for the maintenance that will be required.
I see we will be ready. The Port of Cork has moved forward. I see Belfast as part of our offering as well and part of that solution, and, indeed, other ports that may come forward as well.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-06-11/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-11