Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand the Deputy's argument although I am not sure I would agree with it because there is so much in each of the areas to which the Deputy refers. For example, there is so much complexity and law in the area of the foreshore issue that in my view it is best left in the Department with expertise in the area. Similarly, areas relating to marine development clearly sit better within the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This is why I believe the approach taken by my own Department offers the best way of trying to pull much of this together. We will be publishing legislation soon on the tiering of the ports into national, local and regional significance. This will give a framework in which choices can be made regarding who does what and it will define the structure and the relationship with the local authority. Ultimately, this is the best way of ensuring that each port can play a role in the overall development of the country but it must also be recognised that not every port can carry out the same role. For example, the needs of the Deputy's local port of Shannon-Foynes would be very different from the needs of some smaller and medium-sized ports. The approach of tiering our ports offers the best way of pulling together all the resources that are needed in Government in an effort to develop the ports.

I refer to Deputy Fitzmaurice's point. It is not in our remit to define which kind of projects are acceptable for funding for TEN-T. The European Commission decides the kind and size of projects and we then apply for funding. On the Deputy's point about the west of Ireland, comparable areas in other European countries have not applied for TEN-T funding and have not received it.