John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The other concern that generates for me is that we have a whole area of coast, from Cork all the way around to Belfast, where we do not have a port capable of facilitating the development of offshore wind farms. The national ports policy should review and amend that and hopefully develop plans. I agree with the witnesses. I do not want to see this being done from Cherbourg and if wind farms are being developed on the west coast, I do not want to see that being done in Belfast or Cork. I would like to see those being facilitated by a port along the west coast. I imagine the companies developing a wind farm would seek that type of proximity as well. In terms of the development of our national ports strategy, that should be considered.