Holyhead port closure causing 'heartache and disruption' for people and traders, Taoiseach says

Eva Osborne

Tasoieach Simon Harris has said the closure of Holyhead port has caused "a lot of heartache and disruption for people nad traders this Christmas".

Harris spoke with the First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, about the serious impact of the ongoing closure of Holyhead port on the movement of people and freight between Ireland and Great Britain.

It was recently announced that the port will remain closed until at least January 15th, 2025, due to damages caused by Storm Darragh.

Both Harris and Morgan acknowledged the ongoing efforts being made on both sides to ensure that people travelling home for Christmas are able to do so.

They also discussed the importance of ensuring sufficient port capacity to maintain the supply chains vital to both economies.

The Taoiseach and the First Minister agreed to speak again in the New Year to review progress.

“We discussed the importance to both Wales and Ireland of ensuring sufficient port capacity to vital supply chains between Ireland and the UK, and the need to find workable alternatives for as long as Holyhead remains out of commission," Harris said.

"We expressed a shared wish to see Holyhead return to operation in January, and we agreed to speak again in early January to review matters at that point.”