Irish truckers seek subsidies for France-direct sea freight amid disruption at Dover

The sudden temporary shutdown by the French authorities of British cargo arriving from Channel ports has exposed the "fragility of the UK landbridge" for Ireland.

A general view of Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford.

Irish truckers want the Government to tap more EU funds to subsidise the costs of exporting and importing directly to France by sea. 

Aidan Flynn, general manager for the Freight Transport Association Ireland, said the new Dunkerque lorry cargo route from Rosslare, which DFDS starts in January, was the most viable route because it circumvents the UK motorway landbridge to Dover and gets Irish products into the populous north European markets.