A decision by An Bord Pleanála on the proposed move by the Port of Cork is due in early June when it receives a report on the €160m relocation plan.

Over the last 15 days, An Bord Pleanála inspector Paul Caprani has been hearing submissions from 56 supporters and several objectors of the proposal to build a new container terminal at Oyster Bank in Ringaskiddy.

Among the objectors is the Cork Harbour Environmental Protection Agency.

On the first day of the hearing Port of Cork's Senior Counsel David Holland said the reason for the proposed move is that the Port of Cork's existing container terminal at Tivioli will shortly exceed capacity, due to severe limitations on the size and number of the ships which dock there.

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Waterford Port's submission said there is ample port capacity in Ireland and the plan is "unwarranted and unnecessary".

But, in his closing submission yesterday, Mr Holland said that nobody could credibly say that the port's present container terminal at Tivoli could continue to operate effectively given its limited capacity and its unsuitability to larger ships.

Some objectors had suggested the former IFI site at Marino Point was more suitable, but Mr Holland told the board that there was no basis to risk rejecting the application for a theoretical project on land the port doesn't own.

(VB/NS)