Although the Government intends to maintain its policy of requiring state-owned sea ports to operate on a commercial footing, limited Exchequer funding will be provided for expansion of capacity to meet a projected shortfall of 12.2 million tonnes over the next ten years.
However, the preferred methods of meeting capacity will continue to be through efficiencies, optimum use of existing resources, increased charges or private sector investment.
This was the key message from the Government's Port Policy Statement which was launched by Minister for State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher this morning.
"The policy framework will encourage all port sector stakeholders to address capacity provision," said Mr Gallagher.
"The state will support capacity provision, as residual financier, but only if proven essential to progress identified high quality self-sustaining projects."
While privatisation of ports is still a possibility the policy statement expresses a preference for maximising private sector involvement including funding.
Mr Gallagher said he does not see the need for a regulator of ports at present and proposes that disputes between port stakeholders and the ports should be addressed by independent arbitrators.
Given the commercial role of ports it is intended to make their boards more commercially focused. As a result local authority and worker representation will be reduced to one member each and port-user representation will cease.
Ireland's ports continue to be an essential part of public infrastructure and carry 99 per cent of the volume of the country's foreign trade.