The Dublin Port and Docks Board yesterday confirmed its full support for the Dublin Port Tunnel plan and expressed disappointment at delays in the project.
"The sooner the Dublin Port Tunnel infrastructure is in place, the sooner other elements recommended by the Dublin Transport Initiative can be introduced," said Mr E.P. Connellan, chief executive of Dublin Port.
He said the board was "extremely anxious" to see the project move to the next stages of planning and public inquiry.
Mr Connellan said that 800,000 heavy goods vehicles moved through Dublin Port each year, and the forecast for 2000 was one million vehicles.