Killybegs Chamber of Commerce is calling for its port to be designated as a commercial harbour.
The new €50 million harbour in the fishing town is lying almost idle at present and business is being turned away because it does not have the correct classification to take commercial traffic.
Several high-profile organisations, including the Irish Exporters Association and IBEC have stated that Ireland has not got enough ports to cater for all its imports and exports.
Killybegs Chamber of Commerce President, Art Kavanagh, has complained that the Killybegs facility is 'grossly under used', saying that it is Ireland's premier deepwater berthage.
Nearly 30 acres of land were reclaimed to build the new harbour and the chamber says berthage at all stages of the tide is superior to any other port in this island.
Mr Kavanagh said that any vessel currently using Dublin, Cork, Foynes or Belfast could use Killybegs day or night, irrespective of the tide.
At present, Killybegs is designated as a Fishery Development Harbour and despite the downturn in that industry, Mr Kavanagh claims the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has refused to consider reclassifying it as a commercial port.
