Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Mr. Cronin and Dr. Ó Cadhla for a very informative contribution. I must preface my questions by saying I am from the most inland county in the Dáil - Longford. I would also add that in the 1980s, we sent six councillors from Longford to a conference on coastal erosion so we are very enthused about the coastline, and this is an important Bill.

I have a few questions. Offshore wind energy is a huge aspiration of ours in relation to the carbon plan and greater and more efficient energy production. Through the Department's work and research, does Mr. Cronin envisage a point at which that development will need to be capped, where ultimately it is going to start causing issues on our coastline? Is there a red line beyond which offshore wind energy must not pass?

Mr. Cronin mentioned that we are performing very well vis-à-vissome of our counterparts. In a like-for-like comparison with our closest neighbour, the UK, where are we in the journey that we are going on in terms of maritime issues? Where do we compare with the UK in relation to that?

I have two more questions. Obviously, we are an island nation. Most people will associate the coast with the west coast of Ireland. Are there distinct issues in relation to the west coast and the east coast, given the fact that there are two very different bodies of water on each side? We have an ocean on one side and a sea on the other. Obviously, we are heavily industrialised along the eastern seaboard. Do those two sets of circumstances present different issues and challenges for maritime matters?