In reacting to the news of an unseemly clash between Stena Line and Dublin Port over Brexit Preparations, Independent Deputy Verona Murphy is calling on the government to sort out their strategy and address the problems before more damage is done.

“We are 50 days away from Brexit and we have shipping companies highlighting major issues around traffic management and congestion, which should have been sorted out by now. The solution offered by the Port Authority is to tell the shipping companies to change their ferry times. This has all the elements of last minute panic. Each side hoping the other will blink first. 

Are the government going to wait until we have long queues in the port tunnel, with trucks full of perishable goods being delayed?”

Deputy Murphy concluded by saying,

“The latest clash is symptomatic of the Brexit blame game and buck-passing which is ongoing. When the inevitable congestion around Dublin Port ensues, the Port Authority will blame Stena Line for not changing their ferry times, and Stena Line will blame the Port Authority for flaws in their traffic management. The future of businesses in Ireland who rely on exports and imports, cannot be held to ransom while arms of the state play a game of chicken with shipping companies.”