The Ulster Unionist Party’s Agriculture Spokesperson, Rosemary Barton MLA, has asked the Agriculture Minister to confirm if any mechanisms were put in place to address supply chain disruption during the Covid 19 pandemic in the event that ferries were unable to sail, and if so, to activate them now.

Rosemary Barton said:

“Thursday’s shocking and disgraceful actions by P&O to sack its workforce and disrupt ferry sailings could obviously have very serious repercussions for Northern Ireland’s supply chain.  

“Given that when the Covid 19 pandemic first emerged, there were very real fears that so many workers in key industries could be affected, I would expect contingency plans would have been made, and one of those industries would clearly have to be ferries.   

“The very obvious question that arises now is, were any mechanisms put in place to address supply chain disruption during the Covid 19 pandemic in the event that ferries were unable to sail, and if so, can these mechanisms be used now?

“I have written to the Agriculture Minister seeking clarification and await his answer with interest.”