There were heated exchanges in the Wexford County Council chamber as members clashed over new by-laws
New by-laws to allow for the importation of munitions through the Port of New Ross have been passed by Wexford County Council (WCC). Earlier this year the Irish Defence Forces submitted an application to import munitions via New Ross and, as a result, WCC drafted new bye-laws to facilitate this request.
The by-laws would allow the importation of “certain specified classes of explosive materials in certain conditions” as specified. Importation would be under strict supervision with a primary purpose of providing munitions for the Defence Force exercises.
However, before these by-laws could be incorporated they required the approval of Wexford’s 34 councillors. And at the October meeting of WCC those councillors were asked to either approve or reject the proposed Wexford County Council Explosive By-Laws 2025 for the Port of New Ross.
Explaining what the by-laws entailed, director of services Eamonn Hore said similar processes had been undertaken in regional ports throughout the country.
“This was requested by our defence forces, and it would bring additional business for a port which has struggled in recent years,” he said. “Many of the regional ports, including those in Galway, Waterford, and Foynes, have these by-laws in place. We have discussed this with An Garda Siochána and the Fire Officer in Kilkenny.”
New Ross Cllr John Fleming was fully behind the proposal arguing that the port “needs every bit of help it can get” at the moment. Further support came from Cllr Michael Sheehan before their New Ross colleague, Cllr John Dwyer, took the floor.
“The only industries New Ross has ever been given are dirty industries, open boats full of fertiliser and cement, coal,” he said. “Now it is proposed to give us an industry which could potentially kill people. My objection to this is based on logic, this will be used by the Defence Forces and the Irish State to further engage with EU battle groups.
“I know there are people here who are fully in favour of that, and shame on them because it’s not their sons and daughters who will be required to go and fight in other people’s wars.”
Although the by-laws had been previously discussed in the New Ross monthly meetings, this was the first time they had been brought to the county meetings; as a result there was some confusion regarding their purpose.
“Can we have some more clarity on this?” asked Cllr Ger Carthy. “If we don’t have the facts this should be adjourned until the following meeting.”
“It’s a request directly from the Defence Forces and we have based our by-laws on those implemented by other local authorities,” replied Mr Hore. “It’s a stretch to say this will support foreign wars.”
Having confirmed that similar laws aren’t currently in place at Rosslare Europort, Mr Hore reminded all at the meeting that the by-laws had been put out for public consultation earlier this year and were available to read in full on the council’s website.
For Cllr Jim Codd, the possibility of munitions coming into New Ross meant only one thing.
“Munitions means bullets, not guns for shooting rabbits. We don’t know where these bullets are going to end up. As Cllr Dwyer said it’s not your children or mine this is going to affect.”
“I have two sons who would fight anybody,” replied Cllr Fleming.
Questioning the security measures in place at the Port of New Ross, Cllr Dwyer then noted that, according to the proposals, a warehouse to store the munitions would be situated “right beside a halting site”.
“We have no proposals for storage there at the moment," replied chief executive Eddie Taaffe, “but if we do, we will deal with them through the planning process, our fire services are exceptionally competent in dealing with those issues.”
With the conversation bouncing back and forth and no decisions being made, Cllr Darragh McDonald sought to bring an end to matters.
“This went out to consultation with all the details,” he said. “Personally, I default to the expertise of the Defence Forces and An Garda Siochána, and the fact anyone in this room thinks they’re more educated than them is just bonkers. People talking about ‘fighting wars, and sons and daughters’, why don’t you talk to the Defence Forces?”
Not surprisingly, Cllr Dwyer took issue with these comments.
“What do you know about what’s being implemented there?” he railed as others began to interject.
Amid the din a reference was made to Cllr McDonald’s age, him being one of the more junior members of the council.
“Don’t refer to me as son, I find that ageist,” he said to Cllr Dwyer. “As I said already, I default to the expertise of those who know something and not those who are mouthing off in this chamber.”
The insinuation that councillors were “mouthing off” immediately drew the ire of, among others, Cllr Carthy.
“I want that retracted,” he said from the other side of the room. “I’m not mouthing off here, I know what I’m talking about, retract that. Cllr McDonald, retract that.”
"No,” came the response.
“Typical.”
After that argument had settled down and order had been restored, Cllr Anthony Donohue asked whether the ports which had already implemented similar by-laws had “been blown off the face of the earth”?
“To the best of my knowledge there hasn’t been any incidents to do with these by-laws in the other ports,” replied Mr Hore.
The chief executive then added some further context to the by-laws, outlining that they were only put in place so that the Justice Minister could, if required, apply for a license to import munitions through the port. And again, he refuted any claims that “significant quantities” of weapons were expected to come through New Ross.
Ultimately, with the dissenting voices increasingly outnumbered, the decision whether to approve the by-laws was put to a vote. A show of hands quickly ended that debate with 23 councillors voting in favour of implementing the new by-laws.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.