Relevant Matter
Public policy or programme
Public Policy Area
Energy and Natural Resources
Period
1 May. 2026 to 31 Aug. 2026
Specific Details
Tralee Chamber Alliance Submission on Draft National Ports Policy
Intended results
A West Coast Renewable Energy Pathway - Tralee Chamber Supports the call for a clear and time-bound pathway for Atlantic Offshore renewable energy development
Grid Infrastructure as Regional Economic Infrastructure - Tralee Chamber recommends that National Ports Policy recognise the importance of accelerating electricity transmission and distribution investment in regions hosting and enabling renewable energy development, ensuring sufficient capacity exists to support local enterprise, industrial development, housing and future economic growth.
Balanced Regional Development and Sustainable Communities - Tralee Chamber strongly supports the emphasis on balanced regional development contained within the Limerick Chamber Submission. Tralee Chamber believes this principle should be strenghtened further on sustained employment, enterprise creation, local procurement, workforce and skills development, investment in enabling infrastructure and strengthened towns and rural communities.
Regional Enterprise and Supply-Chain Participation - Tralee Chamber welcomes the proposed development of new port performance measures which recognise strategic and regional value and not simply existing throughout or profitability. Tralee Chamber recommends the inclusion of an additional measure the regional SME and indigenous enterprise participation in port, energy and associated supply chains.
Skills, Education and Workforce Planning - Major port and offshore renewable energy infrastructure will require a substantial pipeline of technical, engineering, maritime, construction, logistics and professional skills, this should involve Technological universities, Educational and Training Boards, apprenticeship providers, industry, ports, local authorities and regional business organisations.
Shannon Estuary as a Wider Regional Economic Asset - Tralee Chamber supports formal recognition of Shannon Foynes as a strategic Atlantic offshore renewable energy hub. For Kerry this means ensuring that transport, grid, skills, enterprise and regional development policies allow businesses and communities throughout the county to participate in the emerging Atlantic energy economy.
Tourism and Cruise Opportunity - Tralee Chamber also supports the proposed assessment of the Shannon Estuary as a potential start-and-finish cruise location. We also recommend that any such assessment considers the wider tourism economy of the western and south-western region, including the potential for passenger dispersal into Kerry
Conclusion - Tralee Chamber supports a clear and time-bound Atlantic/West Coast renewable energy development pathway; formal recognition of Shannon Foynes as a strategic national offshore renewable energy and trade hub; accelerated grid investment across the regions supporting renewable energy development; coordinated investment in port, road, rail, grid and utilites; measurable regional SME and supply-chain participation; long-term skills and apprenticeship planning;
Conclusion continued - investment that strengthens towns and rural communities; and regional development metrics which demonstrate how the economic value generated by strategic national infrastructure is distributed.
Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity
Colette O Connor - CEO of Tralee Chamber Alliance
Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?)
No
Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign?
No
Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client?
No
Lobbying activity
The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.
Submission (1)
Tralee Chamber Alliance - Submission on Draft National Ports Policy dated 24/08/2026.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TwTBcqKwzWuZERR0FHF9iKLy-GChk7Pg
Designated public officials lobbied
The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them.
As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.
Darragh O'Brien
Minister (Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment)
Pa Daly
TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)