Dr. Joseph Hiney:

Each project on its own is a small one but each year there is a range of projects where the port is very much pursuing that line. Ports nowadays are very keen to be good corporate citizens. I worked recently with a team in the Philippines on ports which focused on the relationship between the environment and the community, in particular in the context of cruise and tourism traffic. It is clear that there are opportunities now as cruise and water-based tourism grows internationally. It is growing beyond the stereotypical image we have of the rich cruise passenger coming on the very large cruise ship from the United States or wherever else. There is now a growing trend towards ecotourism and adventure-based tourism and the River Boyne is an opportunity but it cannot be exploited. What one also finds with ports, cruises and tourism is that the ports are a part of the picture. If it was containers the port would be driving the agenda but with tourism and cruise passengers, for example, it is very much a case of working with the local community because the port itself is one aspect of the business. Cork is a very successful operator when it comes to cruise tourism in Cobh. I was working there recently on that and it is particularly interesting because as soon as the people come off the vessel local people take it from there and bring them far and wide, so that equation must be in place in Louth and Meath as well to meet the demands of the tourists who could come in.

I will come back to Deputy Munster on the specific proposal she has in terms of birdwatching. I will find out more and come back to her.