BBC/Carwyn JonesIreland’s Prime Minister has said that Holyhead port is unlikely to reopen before Christmas.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said the “seriousness” of the damage was becoming more apparent “as the days go by”, as he expressed concern for people trying to get home for Christmas on both sides of the Irish Sea. .
Anglesey harbor is the main sea route between North Wales and Dublin, but It has been closed after being struck by lightning. last week.
Holyhead Port said work was ongoing to repair the damage caused by the partial collapse of a berth used by Irish Ferries.
Chris Wills Photography and Film
Chris Wills Photography and FilmSpeaking in Dun Laoghaire on the Irish coast on Monday, Mr Harris said: “It is a serious concern for people who have bought goods and gifts and presents which they are hoping will arrive, And those who are understandably trying to get home for the Christmas period.”
The port operator, Stena Line, has apologized for the cancellation of its Holyhead sailing, adding that it is “doing everything in its power to minimize the impact of the closure on passenger and freight traffic”.
There are usually four ferries daily between Holyhead and Dublin, operated by Stena Line and Irish Ferries.
There was a shutdown. Led Ireland’s national postal service to abandon plans to use Holyhead. Port for Christmas delivery.
Mr Harris said there was “a lot of work going on in government on this issue”, including meetings between the Minister for Transport and the Minister of State for Transport and their Welsh counterparts.
James Lawless, Ireland’s junior minister at the Department of Transport, met his Welsh counterpart Ken Skeats on Sunday and the two are due to meet Stena Line at 13:00 GMT on Monday.
Mr Lawless said the two ministers were asking Stena Line to provide more “accurate and timely” updates on the scale of damage and repairs required to Holyhead.
He said Mr Scates had pledged to temporarily relax driving laws, as the Irish government had done at the weekend.
Ireland’s Department for Transport has announced it will relax rules on haulier hours by December 27, allowing drivers to work longer hours and take fewer breaks.
Mr Lawless said it would be introduced on both sides at Holyhead to help clear the backlog of deliveries.
A spokesman for the port said it was aware of the disruption following two separate incidents at Terminal 3, used by Irish Ferries, on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 December.
He said underwater inspections around that terminal and nearby Terminal 5 were to begin, which could only begin on Tuesday, December 10, once the storm had passed.
“This process is still ongoing, and we will provide an update as soon as we are able,” he added.
He said he was aware of the disruption to trade, passengers and port users, adding that the safety of staff, contractors and customers was his top priority.
According to local MP Linus Maddy, more investment needs to be made in Holyhead Port.
Ms Maddy, who represents Ynys Mon, said BBC Radio Wales Breakfast That “it is clear that [repair] The work is much more intense than they expected.”
He said it was the UK’s second busiest port and he hoped “going forward the Port of Holyhead will be seen by the Welsh and UK Government as a port that needs to be supported”.
Ms Maddy said a local company had told her about 10 jobs had been lost as a result of the closure.
He said that the storm has shown the strategic importance of the port to the UK, Ireland and Europe.
“Things have to go wrong before someone realizes the value,” he added.
“People don’t realize that it’s not just the inconvenience of the port being closed, it’s actually having a personal impact on people and their families.”
Why is Holyhead port closed?
The ongoing closure of the port comes after power was restored to businesses and homes left in the dark in Wales following the storm.
Storm Darragh saw gusts of up to 93mph (150km/h) in the UK.
A Welsh Government spokesman said the closure was being managed through a coordinated effort between itself, the Port Authority, Stena Line, Irish Ferries, and the Isle of Anglesey Council to “ensure public safety and minimize disruption”. can be reduced from