Holyhead crisis prompts 'constructive meeting' to get people and presents home for Christmas

The Irish and Welsh governments are working together to address major disruption at Holyhead Port following damage caused by Storm Darragh, which has severely impacted freight and passenger transport across the Irish Sea in the lead-up to Christmas.

Holyhead Port, a critical link for trade and travel between Ireland and the UK, has faced slower-than-expected repairs, raising concerns about the movement of goods and people for the holiday season.

With the port's reopening potentially delayed beyond the initial December 19 date, both governments have agreed on a coordinated approach to alleviating the backlog and ensuring alternative routes are operational.

Following a meeting on Sunday evening, Minister of State for Transport James Lawless and Welsh Cabinet Secretaries Ken Skates and Rebecca Evans pledged full cooperation over the coming 10 days. They will work closely with ferry operators, port authorities, and logistic companies to prioritise the transport of goods and passengers.

Daily engagement between officials from both sides will focus on sharing critical data on freight and passenger bookings and enabling additional and more frequent ferry services. Alternative ports, including Fishguard and Pembroke, are being examined to ease the pressure while Holyhead remains out of service.

The disruption has created significant challenges for businesses and individuals relying on the port, especially as the Christmas season approaches. Tens of thousands of people and passengers typically use Holyhead during this period, with many now needing to reroute via other ports.

To support this, both Ireland and the UK have temporarily relaxed restrictions and haulage driver working hours, ensuring supply chains remain intact during the disruption.

In a joint statement, Ministers emphasize the importance of Holyhead port operators providing clear and reliable updates to the public and the logistics sector as repairs continue.

Meetings with ferry operators, including Irish Ferries and Stena Line, are scheduled for today, with Ministers Lawless and Eamon Ryan joining their Welsh counterparts to discuss additional capacity and contingency measures. Welsh Cabinet Secretary Ken Skates will also meet UK government representatives to further coordinate efforts.