Taoiseach Simon Harris speaks to First Minister of Wales about the Port of Holyhead

Taoiseach Simon Harris spoke today with First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan about the ongoing impact of the closure of Holyhead port on the movement of people and freight between Ireland and Great Britain. Both leaders welcomed the confirmation from the port operator, Stena Line, of a partial reopening of the port on 16 January. This is expected to accommodate the volume of freight and passenger services in place prior to the disruption caused by Storm Darragh at the beginning of December.

The leaders also acknowledged the significant collaboration and efforts by ministers and officials, port and ferry operators, and by industry on both sides, which helped to address the overall impacts of the closure over the last month including to ensure that people travelling home for Christmas were able to do so, and that essential supply chains continued to operate. This has included the work of Minister Eamon Ryan and Minister of State James Lawless who have been in ongoing contact with their Welsh colleagues on this issue.

Following their call, Taoiseach Simon Harris said:

''I took the opportunity this morning to speak to the First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, about the situation at Holyhead Port. The First Minister and I welcomed the commitment by Stena Line to oversee the partial reopening of the Port of Holyhead on 16 January. This is good news for the freight industry and for passengers from both Great Britain and Ireland on one of our busiest and more important routes. The First Minister and I acknowledged the intensive engagement between ministers, port and ferry operators and by industry on both sides over recent weeks to develop contingency arrangements to facilitate the movement of people and freight between Ireland and Great Britain following the widescale disruption caused by Storm Darragh.

''We discussed the importance in the longer term of continuing to work together to ensure resilience of sea connectivity between Wales and Ireland. I welcomed the establishment by the Welsh Government of a task force to ensure that the Port of Holyhead meets the future needs of both Ireland and Wales, and the confirmation by the First Minister that she would ensure the representation of Irish interests on that task force.''