[3][4] By the late 20th century, Ireland became a significant player in the industry, ranking highly in a Fraser Institute survey.
Primary raw material industries in Ireland include those involving steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminium, barite, and gypsum mining processing.
[citation needed] Heavy industry relying on these materials is centered around key port cities such as Dublin, Cork, and Belfast (the latter in Northern Ireland).
The Corrib project attracted significant and sustained controversy[17][18] owing to concerns about its environmental impact, safety issues (due to proximity to residential areas), alleged planning irregularities, debate on the conditions in which private interests benefit from state resources, and the perceived poor contribution that the project returns to the economy.
[19][20][21] A number of groups, notably the Rossport Five and Shell to Sea campaign, gained national attention for their opposition to the project.
[24] Providence later revised the amount of oil obtainable to approximately 300 million barrels, worth several billions of euro.
[25] Providence has interests in other Irish oil and gas fields, including one off the coast of Spanish Point in Clare.
[29][30] Farming (including livestock rearing, dairy products, cereals, potatoes), is a key contributor to the Economy of Ireland.
[32] The fishing grounds around Ireland's territorial seas and waters include the Irish Conservation Box – a 100,000 km2 zone specifically protected from overfishing.
These fresh water habitats support native fish species including char, eel, brown trout, perch, pike, pollan, and roach.
The Forestry Act 1988, made provisions for the enlargement of forestry in the state, and provided the establishment of a company – later named Coillte – which was mandated with the management of state owned forests, and with providing grant aid to commercial and privately owned forest farming and planted woodland.