ARLENE Foster warned the Republic's transport minister that reduced capacity at Dublin Port during construction work in preparation for Brexit could be "potentially damaging" to Northern Ireland's cruise ship industry.
The DUP leader wrote to Shane Ross to raise concerns that limited berth space in Dublin could mean cruise liners decide not to dock at Belfast Harbour.
Dublin is expanding its freight capacity because more container ships are expected from mainland Europe after Brexit, as Irish firms seek to avoid using Britain as a 'land bridge'.
The number of cruise ships the port can accommodate will be reduced while the construction work is carried out.
In his letter responding last month, Mr Ross sought to reassure Mrs Foster that Cork and Belfast would fill the gap left by fewer cruise ship arrivals in Dublin.
Cruise ship arrivals in Dublin are set to fall from 150 to 80 a year from 2021 to 2023, but will increase to 150 ships in 2024 and 2025 and more than 200 arrivals after 2026.
Mr Ross described the reduction in cruise business as "regrettable", but welcomed Dublin Port Company's intention to restore the cruise ship capacity.
"I should point out that my officials have also been in contact with the Port of Cork, who have advised that they are working with Belfast Harbour to see if they can take some of the additional business that may be lost as a result of Dublin Port's proposals," he told Mrs Foster in his letter, seen by The Irish Times.
Mr Ross said he was "very keen to mitigate any adverse effects that Brexit or other factors may have on the tourism industry, including cruise tourism".
