Joe O'Toole (Independent)

That was an interesting exchange, although the IFSC is not connected with the BMW region, any more than is Clonmel. I must concur with Senator Feeney on the IFSC, an idea for which Charles J. Haughey was widely criticised at the time. That is the reality.

The issues in the BMW region relate to the people, the environment and the infrastructure. The infrastructure allows people to engage with the environment. There are significant problems in terms of lack of investment in that area. In welcoming the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to the House, I would ask him to consider this aspect. I addressed a meeting last week in Mayo and I said that if I were examining the BMW region, I would start at the water and move eastwards, which is a difficult thing to do.

Senator Feeney gave a good example of the difficulty for her children travelling from Sligo to college in Galway. I have heard that example given on several occasions. All the infrastructure in the BMW region is heading eastwards, not north-south, which is a fundamental issue in terms of infrastructure. If we start at the Atlantic, how many significant fishing ports are on the west coast? If one travels from Castletownbere to Dingle, the next port is Killybegs.