Anger mounts over bid to sink Galway Port plan

Galway West Fine Gael TD Brian Walsh has hit out at the attempts to scuttle the plans, describing them as “disingenuous”.

And a city councillor has told a Limerick TD (and party colleague) to “get his facts correct or shut up” in relation to Galway’s plans.

Earlier this year, the Port Authority objected to the plans, claiming they would compromise plans for Shannon Foynes – where the long-term plan is not expected to be in place until 2041.

Deputy Walsh called on Shannon Foynes to withdraw the objection, which also led to angry exchanges at an Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport meeting recently.

At that meeting, Pat O’Donovan, an FG TD for Limerick, launched a blistering attack on Galway Port and Galway Harbour Company.

Harbour Company CEO Eamonn Bradshaw said O’Donovan embarked on a “tirade”, and claimed Shannon Foynes feels threatened by Galway’s expansion plans.

There were numerous inaccuracies in Deputy O’Donovan’s outburst in relation to Galway Port.

Galway City councillor Pearce Flannery said this week: “Pat O’Donovan has been pretty anonymous throughout his career and now suddenly he decides to try to make a name for himself through his inaccurate grandstanding in order to curry favour with his Limerick-based electorate.

“It is beyond belief that any TD would overstep his brief, misrepresent the facts to interfere with the development plans of such utmost strategic importance to an entire region simply to further his personal re-election prospects.

“Pat O’Donovan needs to realise that what is good for Galway is good for the entire region. Playing parochial politics with such an important issue does little to enhance his reputation.

“He should withdraw his comments and stop trying to interfere with such an important infrastructural development. This reflects badly on him personally and his standing as a parliamentarian,” said Cllr Flannery.

Deputy Walsh said Shannon Foynes has plans to develop its own facilities but these – described by the company as a “vision” – are not expected to be undertaken and completed until 2041. He also criticised Deputy O’Donovan’s comments.

“This should not be an issue because Galway does not want to compete with Shannon Foynes for freight traffic. The business model involved in our plans for redevelopment envisages Galway as a specialist port relying on tourism, leisure and exploration.

“Their efforts to torpedo our imminent plans in order to protect their own aspirational plans are unnecessary and disingenuous,” said Deputy Walsh.