The Green Party has called on Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company to actively investigate attracting the cruise liner market to Dun Laoghaire in a submission to the new MasterPlan for the Harbour.

Green Party TD for Dún Laoghaire Ciarán Cuffe stated:

Dún Laoghaire is a fantastic harbour location with a unique built and natural heritage. The introduction of cruise traffic would be a fantastic boost for the local economy and create jobs in the town.

We’ve seen the tremendous positive impact of large cruise liners docking at Dublin Port with thousands of passengers disembarking, visiting tourist attractions and spending money in local shops and businesses.

The Harbour’s location immediately adjacent to the Dun Laoghaire DART station also makes it an ideal gateway location for tourists to explore the coast and Dublin City centre.

The historic Carlisle Pier now has the potential to provide a high quality covered public amenity space. A restored 1890’s Victorian railway building using original elements could host an ice-rink in winter, Festival of World Cultures events in summer and occasional outdoor events and markets.

I don’t want to lose the ferry link to the UK and I’ve asked the Harbour Company to retain this important connection. It's a great low-carbon way to travel to and from the UK.

Green Party Submission on the Future of Dún Laoghaire Harbour February 2011