The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources has set a three-month deadline for a critical review of ports in the Shannon estuary. Dr Woods has also published proposed legislation for management of inland fisheries, which will offer regional boards a greater degree of independence.

The Shannon estuary review follows a consultancy recommendation to merge some secondary seaports, and is charged with examining operational and management structures. Since March 1997, all port facilities within the estuary have been managed by the Shannon Estuary Ports Company and Foynes Port Company.

The Minister wants to determine whether the existing multi-port arrangement was meeting needs, or if a "stronger, more focused and dynamic port organisation or grouping of ports could provide a better and more effective service".

While almost 10 million tonnes of commercial traffic moved through Shannon and Foynes in 1998, a recent EU-funded study estimated the annual combined commercial capacity of the two port companies at 22 million tonnes. Overall traffic through the estuary ports is not perceived to be keeping pace with the general rate of annual increase in port traffic of up to 10 per cent.

The KPMG review of secondary ports for the Minister's Department singled out Shannon and Fenit as two boards which should be considered for a merger.