April 21, 1999
(Executive Council)

Business links with Ireland pay dividends

Premier Brian Tobin and Irish Prime Minister, (Taoiseach), Bertie Ahern participated today in the signing of five agreements between Irish and Newfoundland and Labrador companies, during a Newfoundland and Labrador Business Mission to the Republic.

Organized by the province's Ireland Business Partnerships and the St. John's Board of Trade, the week-long mission was led by Premier Brian Tobin, and featured 14 Newfoundland and Labrador companies with over 40 participants. Industry, Trade and Technology Minister Sandra Kelly and Finance Minister Paul Dicks also took part in the mission.

"This business mission stems directly from the Memorandum of Understanding on economic cooperation signed between Ireland and Newfoundland and Labrador in 1996 and renewed today," the premier said. "There are strong cultural ties between Ireland and our province, and great potential for cooperative exchanges in research and development and technology transfers. All have figured significantly in this mission."

"The successful conclusion of these deals clearly shows the potential - previously identified in the Memorandum of Understanding - which exists for Irish companies and companies from Newfoundland and Labrador to do business together - to the benefit of all concerned," said Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

Agreements signed in Ireland today included a letter of intent between Companion Films of St. John's and Fred Wolf Films of Dublin to develop an $8 million feature-length animated film entitled "Shelagh Na Geira - The Pirate Princess." The story of Shelagh Na Geira has been a focal point of Newfoundland and Labrador folklore.

Rink Rat Productions of St. John's also signed a deal with Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) of Ireland to produce a documentary film entitled "Sonny: The Story of a Song." The one hour documentary is based upon the song by Newfoundland and Labrador singer/composer Ron Hynes entitled "Sonny's Dream," and how it became an "Irish" song. Hynes' song has attained almost mythic status in Ireland, having been recorded by many artists, and is one of the biggest selling singles in Irish history. The film will feature Ron Hynes, performing his works in St. John's before featuring him in Dublin, Belfast and Galway. The CTV Network has developed the project in conjunction with Rink Rat Productions and will be the Canadian broadcaster for the film.

Newfoundland and Labrador's growing information technology sector was also a focal point of the mission. Xwave solutions signed an agreement with the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) to share information on student administration, human resources, financial and library systems. Xwave solutions have also been working with the DIT on a new student information system similar to that now used at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

The Bristol Group of Companies of St. John's signed a partnership arrangement with Amarach Consulting of Dublin. The formalized partnership will see both companies explore further joint opportunities in Europe and North America.

The Brother T. I. Murphy Centre renewed its cooperative "Experience Ireland" program with the F.A.S. Ireland Training and Employment Authority. Last year this agreement saw eight Newfoundland students trained in Ireland by F.A.S. and given practical job placement in the private sector. Students were trained in one of the three areas covered by the Irish Newfoundland M.O.U. - tourism, environment or information technology. A similar number of students are expected to participate this year and the renewal of the project will be financially supported by the federal Government of Canada through the Department of Human Resources Development and the F.A.S. Ireland Training and Employment Authority.

"These signings represent only some of the arrangements that have been entered into during the past several days of meetings," the premier noted. "A strong business foundation has been developed between Newfoundland and Labrador and the Republic of Ireland and we anticipate many other initiatives will evolve from this mission."

Newfoundland and Labrador companies participating in the business mission included the Canadian Centre for Marine Communications (CCMC), Compusult Ltd., EDM Consulting, FGA Consulting, Genesis Organics, Guigne International, SCC Environmental, Tourism Training Institute, Xwave Solutions, Ernst and Young LLP, the Bristol Group of Companies, Connections Research, Rink Rat Productions and Companion Films.

Media contact: Doug Burgess, Director of Communications, Industry, Trade and Technology, (709) 729-6573.

1999 04 21                        5:30 p.m.