Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I have listened to the Minister of State, but he is missing my concern. I do not wish to go around in circles, but Government policy is highlighted in the major report or high level review of commercial State ports. I have been saying ad nauseam that the report — I will read into the record the next day the parts of the report that concern Bantry and my amendments — takes no account of anything except commercial activity. There is no mention of the importance of Bantry from the tourism perspective of marine and leisure activities etc.

I attended a meeting in Bantry last Monday, chaired by people from Fáilte Ireland, with regard to Bantry's designation, with Killarney, as a tourist hub for south and west Munster. We were told at the meeting what could and should be done for the area. Like reports from many Departments, this report on the ports was drawn up with tunnel vision that never looked left or right and involved no cross-departmental discussion or engagement. We can leave Whiddy Island refinery out of the discussion as it might close. The stone quarry in Adrigole, which exports its stone from Leighhill pier, may also close, but one sure thing is that people will still live on Whiddy Island, and I must represent them.

Bantry is a tourist hub and part of our main tourism industry. A new hotel opened there that cost over €40 million. I could argue that on strict commercial lines there is merit for a merger between Cork and Bantry ports, based on commercial traffic. However, that negates my duty to the fishermen, fish farmers etc. There is nothing in this Bill for them although they have a role to play. They are the stakeholders and must be protected and consulted. That is the reason I find it impossible to support the Bill in its current form before the due diligence report is completed and before full consultation with all stakeholders. This has not happened.

After the Betelgeuse disaster, there was a major commitment from the then coalition, led by Dick Spring, that money would be spent——