A hearing into plans by the Port of Cork to build a €226m cargo terminal at Ringaskiddy got under way this morning.
The plans to move the port's city operations to Ringaskiddy are highly contentious and more than 500 submissions have been received by the planning appeals board.
The Port of Cork has reacted angrily to Waterford Port's submission that its plans for Ringaskiddy are ill conceived, unviable and unsustainable.
Port of Cork Chief Executive Brendan Keating dismissed their claims telling An Bord Pleanála Inspector Paul Caprani that their views are fundamentally flawed and anti-competitive.
However in a statement, the Port of Waterford said that there is ample port capacity in Ireland and the plan is unwarranted and unnecessary.
The Port of Waterford is one of 57 parties who will be making full submissions to the oral hearing over the next three weeks.
Others include the Naval Service, the Department of Agriculture, An Taisce and Cork Harbour Environmental Protection Association.
CHEPA's Solicitor Joe Noonan was strongly critical that both the National Roads Authority and the Health & Safety Agency had turned down invitations to attend the oral hearing.
Inspector Paul Caprani reserved the right to direct them to attend at a later stage.
It is expected that the oral hearing could take up to three weeks to complete with a decision due by 3 June.
