Ms Lucy McCaffrey:

Interestingly, our planning application for an infill of 21 ha was turned down six years ago. The principal reason related to disruption to bird habitats. We have come to the conclusion that the two things do not have to be in opposition. The bird habitat and the industrial use of the port need not necessarily be in opposition. It is for this reason that we are working closely with BirdWatch Ireland. We are getting to know indepth the migratory patterns of birds and the effects of human activity on the birds. We are optimistic that these two things need not be in opposition. Having said that, there is no choice but to abide by the European designations, but we do not see them as a barrier to doing what we need to do on behalf of the economy.

Deputy Fitzmaurice asked me about ports collaborating. Ports do collaborate. There is an organisation called the Irish Ports Association under which we collaborate. We do not have a masterplan for the ports of Ireland. However, a recent and excellent new national ports policy has been published which gives coherence to the development of ports. Of course, that is the level from which it should come; it should come from Government. It gives coherence and identifies three tiers of port. The policy places Dublin Port in the top tier, as it would. That is where the coherence comes from.

Do we compete? Yes, we compete for business.

The second thing is that market forces decide where they want to go.

Economies of scale are increasingly an issue in shipping so larger vessels are becoming the norm. The main reason for ABR development is that we must have the depths and the berths to accommodate 21st-century vessels. If we could not do so, Dublin Port would become obsolete. That speaks to the problem of ports that cannot provide longer and deeper berths. I can say more on this point if the members wish.