The Oral Hearing centring around controversial plans to locate a €226m cargo terminal at Ringaskiddy got underway in Cork yesterday, Wednesday, April 2.

The proposed plan to move operations to Ringaskiddy has to date been fiercely disputed by objectors, including the port authority in Waterford, the Naval Services, An Taisce, the Cork Harbour Environmental Protection Association and several local tourism and sporting groups.

In an opening statement at the hearing, David Holland, Senior Counsel for the Port of Cork Company stressed the need to give permission to the plans. "The port's existing container terminal at Tivoli will shortly exceed its capacity – not merely for want of land but because of severe limitations on the size and number of ships which can dock there.

"Simply put, Cork and Munster cannot afford to turn this business away. The economy of Cork and Munster cannot do without a port container terminal big enough to handle the trade available and close enough make it economic to travel to and from it. The economic case for a new container terminal is compelling."

He also dismissed the objection by the Port of Waterford, citing their opposition as being "riddled with obvious error", "blatantly anti-competitive" and in breach of "clearly articulated government policy that ports compete with each other".

Joe Noonan, Senior Counsel for both the Cork Harbour Environmental Protection Association (CHEPA) and local resident groups countered the claims made by Holland. Speaking to the Cork Independent, Noonan remarked, "The Port of Waterford's objections have been made in a national context. They believe this proposed move will be so big as to harm other port operators. They have also pointed out that any move would result in worsening carbon emissions, as ships will have to travel longer and then put everything on trucks to be delivered to their destinations.

"Residents believe the plans are an all out attack on the harbour, a view that is shared by Cork City Council, and will have a hugely damaging effect on tourism in the region. The Port of Cork is commerce driven and as a result these plans have not taken all the factors into consideration. This will, without question, damage the area," he concluded.

The oral hearing is expected to take up to three weeks to complete with a decision due by June 3.

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