The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Dermot Ahern, is to explore the possibilities and level of interest that exists for privatisation of the state port assets following the delivery of two major consultants' reports into the industry.
While he says privatisation is not an immediate option, the minister says he feels more competition and private sector involvement should play a big part in a new ports policy.
The merger of some regional ports, including Galway and Rossaveal, and Cork and Bantry, is also something the minister will examine.
Most of Ireland's major ports remain in state ownership, and the Government is looking for new ways to stimulate competition between locations, perhaps through the appointment of a regulator or ombudsman.
In a consultation process the minister will also ask ports to consider how they might attract new private capital to be invested in infrastructure, perhaps through the use of the public private partnership mechanism.
