Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the chairman designate for the Port of Cork, Mr. Mullins, and his appointment. We should pay tribute to the outgoing chairman, Mr. Dermot O'Mahony, under whose stewardship the port has developed and significantly expanded, including through cruise ship traffic. I am pleased Mr. Mullins will continue with Mr. O'Mahony's work in the port, including the provision of new facilities in Cobh. We are approaching the point where it may no longer be possible to get more without investing in further facilities. Perhaps that option will be explored.

On the development of Cork Harbour, the proposal to relocate must be welcomed and supported by the entire province of Munster. At some point, the volume of imports and exports coming through the Port of Cork will reach a critical mass and the region will suffer unless the relocation to the south harbour proceeds. This is an opportune time to address this issue given the likelihood of an upturn in traffic. I welcome Mullins's comments that the Port of Cork will deal with the issue. Will he confirm that the planning process will commence shortly?

How does Mr. Mullins intend to learn from the experience of the development of the Dublin docklands? I refer both to the achievements and mistakes made in Dublin. How could they be utilised or avoided, as the case may be, for the Cork Harbour experience?

Mr. Mullins referred briefly to refining. A question mark hangs over the future of the Whitegate refinery. Ireland needs to have a refining capacity and a decision must be taken on this issue within months. Does Mr. Mullins have an opinion on the matter?

The Chairman stole my thunder on the issue of Bantry Bay. I am pleased he expressed such interest in Bantry Harbour port. His breadth of knowledge is fascinating. I welcome Mr. Mullins's comments in that regard. While the proposal is contentious, it is worth noting the significant potential it offers Bantry Harbour. I welcome the decision to enter into a consultation process. This proposed development gives us an idea of the phenomenal reach of the Port of Cork, not only in terms of the maritime sector of County Cork, but as far inland as counties Kilkenny and Tipperary. Mr. Mullins is assuming an important position in a large company which has a major impact on the commercial and economic life of the region.

Cork does not have a passenger link to the United Kingdom. The closure of the Cork-Swansea ferry link has had a negative impact on tourism in the south west region. I ask Mr. Mullins to comment. The Port of Cork has been supportive of efforts to reinstate the Cork-Swansea link and I compliment its operations manager, Mr. Michael McCarthy, on everything he has done on this issue. While I am aware the Port of Cork is committed to reinstating the link, it would be helpful to have this support on record.

Anyone who uses a resource such as the Port of Cork and Cork Harbour will inevitably encounter a conflict between commercial, leisure and fisheries interests and the industrial traffic that has become such a feature of the harbour. I assume Mr. Mullins is prepared to deal with much of this conflict that will arise during his tenure.