Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:01 pm on 7 March 2023.
There's no doubt at all that Brexit has been very damaging to the port of Holyhead. One strong argument for giving a free port designation to Holyhead is that that designation has already been given to Liverpool, where it's possible to sail directly to Northern Ireland, and the fear is that that designation gives an unfair advantage to Liverpool over Holyhead.
But in looking to the longer term, one other threat to Holyhead is the state of the barrage. Now, the Welsh Government has been eager to show support in investing in maintaining that, and Stena has demonstrated that they're also willing to invest, but there's a third party—the UK Government. So, can the First Minister first of all confirm ongoing support from the Welsh Government to make that investment, and give us an update on the negotiations going on between the Government and the UK Government to ensure that this investment can happen to give that prosperous long-term future to the port in Holyhead?