A new organisation has been established to campaign against the Dublin Port Company's decision to reduce the number of cruise ships entering the port from 2021.
The All-Ireland Cruise Ship Action Group, which has the backing of DublinTown and Retail Excellence Ireland, has called on the Cabinet to help find a way to facilitate both cargo and cruise ships at the port.
The AICSAG includes business representatives across the tourism, retail and transport sectors.
It says Dublin Port's recent decision is in stark contrast to its activity in the past ten years of promoting the port as a cruise destination.
Managing Director of Excursions Ireland Niamh McCarthy pointed out that Dublin Port won the sea trading award for Port of the Year last year. She described it as "farcical" that business is now being turned away.
Ms McCarthy told a press conference that she received an email last night from one of the biggest international cruise line companies which said: "I'm giving up. Tell them to give us a call when they want cruise business again."
Responding to a question from Fianna Fáil's Michael McGrath yesterday, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross said he met the Dublin Port Company last week.
He said that in order to enable construction work to take place, the company said there would be some disruption to cruise business from 2021 to 2023.
Dublin Port said that in order to ensure that the port continues to handle large cargo volumes, cruise ships would have to be limited.
Mr Ross said Fáilte Ireland supported the development and promotion of various tourism sectors, including cruise tourism.
Fianna Fáil's transport spokesperson Robert Troy, who was at the press conference, said he would raise the issue with Minister Ross in the Dáil next week.
Members of the All-Ireland Cruise Ship Action Group say once other ports receive cruise ships, they are unlikely to return.
One cruise liner company has chosen Liverpool as an alternative destination to Dublin.
