Goods should be transported to and from Europe on direct ferries “for the foreseeable future” to avoid Covid-19 and Brexit delays in Britain, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said. Haulage industry concerns about a shortage of capacity for lorry drivers on direct ferry routes would be addressed quickly by shipping companies because if there is a “dramatic reduction” in landbridge traffic, ferries on the Irish Sea would be switched to the direct routes, he said. Streamlined supply chains through Britain would, in the short term, be “significantly disrupted” and firms should take “slightly longer” direct routes, which will be “significantly quicker” as they will avoid border checks, bureaucracy, paperwork and delays, he said. “People shouldn’t be panicking or shouldn’t be fearful that there are going to be shortages,” he said. Mr Ryan said large ferries were continuing to sail to Irish ports from Britain where the State sources much of its distribution for supplies in Ireland, he said.

Source: The Irish Times December 23, 2020 00:56 UTC