The recommendations of the Irish Sea Resilience Taskforce have
been published today.
The recommendations have been agreed by all partners and next
steps include an annual bilateral meeting between Irish and Welsh
transport officials.
The recommendations also outline how to achieve improved
resilience, better contingency plans that will protect
connectivity for passengers and improve how disruption is
managed.
The Taskforce convened in March last year in response to the
impact of the temporary closure of Holyhead Port in December
2024. Members of the Irish and Welsh governments, transport
officials and stakeholders worked collaboratively on a systematic
and thorough review of what had been learned. The Taskforce
focused on using this experience to further safeguard
connectivity and build resilience across ports and port
infrastructure, now and in the coming years.
Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road
Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney said:
“I thank Cabinet Secretary for his leadership of the Taskforce over the last nine
months, along with all the officials and stakeholders who have
worked on it. We have both strengthened old relationships and
established new ones, which will continue through annual meetings
and regular communication.
Although the circumstances were far than ideal, I am delighted
that our two departments have been brought closer together and I
look forward to the deepening of this relationship over the
coming years.”
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales said: “Discussions within the Irish Sea Taskforce has
reinforced the importance of Holyhead and our other Irish Sea
facing ports to communities in Wales and Ireland and beyond, and
our shared interest and responsibility, both now and in the
future, to make sure they thrive and grow. We will continue
to work closely together building on our strengthened
relationship.”
Written Statement: Welsh
Government Statement Irish Sea Taskforce recommendations
publication (14 January 2026) | GOV.WALES
