NLIS 15
September 16, 2005
(Executive Council)
 

Taoiseach Ahern, Premier Williams highlight Irish-Newfoundland and Labrador initiatives

In a news conference today, Ireland�s Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Newfoundland and Labrador�s Premier Danny Williams highlighted key areas and initiatives on which the two jurisdictions are partnering. The Irish Prime Minister is in St. John�s on his first official visit to the province.

�Newfoundland and Labrador�s relationship with Ireland has grown significantly in the last decade,� said the Premier. �The collaboration between our Ireland Business Partnerships and the Ireland Newfoundland Partnership in Dublin has enabled both jurisdictions to focus on sectors that offer strategic opportunities, such as business, particularly ocean and marine technology, culture and heritage, and education.�

The Taoiseach said that these activities reflect the fact that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two governments had led to positive and practical steps being taken to build on the historic ties that exist between our islands, and to seek ways to build positive developments on the solid foundations that these ties provide. �These developments are in large measure due to the work of the Ireland Newfoundland Partnership Board, on our side, and the Ireland Business Partnerships Board on your side. These bodies work to encourage and consolidate linkages in business, education and culture and I wish to acknowledge the very positive work they are doing.�

Several new joint Irish-Newfoundland and Labrador business initiatives are underway in the manufacturing sector, real estate and ocean technology. In the oceans sector, Ireland and Newfoundland and Labrador are exploring opportunities in ocean observation and are currently pursuing global opportunities in the area of seabed mapping. The Canadian Centre for Marine Communications, based in St. John�s, and the Geological Survey of Ireland and Ireland�s Marine Institute, have collaborated in the past on the completion of the Irish National Seabed Survey. They will now build on their expertise by engaging others in the oceans sector in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ireland and other jurisdictions, to develop consortium partners through which they can market their services to international markets. Additionally, Memorial University is collaborating with several Irish partners in the areas of ocean research and, through its Marine Institute, is providing training and access to technology to the Irish fishing industry. This week Newfoundland and Labrador hosted a delegation of Irish seafood processors and aquaculture operators. The participants chose Newfoundland and Labrador with the intention of identifying opportunities for partnerships in the areas of new product development, new processing technology and the supply of raw materials.

On the culture and heritage front, there are two Irish-Newfoundland and Labrador film productions in progress and there are three Irish art exhibitions currently on display throughout St. John�s. The Town of Tilting was recently designated by Parks Canada as a national historic site because of its Irish architecture and historic link to Ireland. Earlier this week, the Ireland Business Partnerships announced it provided $10,000 to Spirit of Newfoundland Productions Limited to compete in the Waterford International Light Opera Festival. Spirit of Newfoundland, the only selected Canadian competitor, will perform the award-winning Broadway production Nunsense on September 20 in the international musical theatre competition.

Education has also been a focus of collaborations between the two jurisdictions, particularly between colleges, universities and rural community-based organizations. Student and faculty exchanges are occurring between Irish institutions and MUN, Marine Institute and the College of the North Atlantic.

This year, Grenfell College will introduce its Bachelor of Tourism Studies Degree Program, a program focusing on cultural tourism. Grenfell has collaborated with the Waterford Institute of Technology on the development of this program. The two institutions will share curriculum materials in this area and will jointly agree to host each other�s students for credit courses.

Grenfell is also pursuing opportunities with Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) in the areas of curriculum development, student and academic exchanges and summer in-residence programs in the areas of fine arts and creative writing. IADT is also sharing an on-line curriculum package in cultural events management with Grenfell�s new Tourism Studies Program.

Premier Williams said these are just a few examples of the activities happening under the memorandum of understanding between the Republic of Ireland and Newfoundland and Labrador. In July 2004, Taoiseach Ahern and Premier Williams re-signed the MOU to re-affirm the commitment both jurisdictions have in advancing the partnership. In a further demonstration of that commitment, in November 2004 government increased funding for the Ireland Business Partnerships by $200,000, to $300,000, to increase efforts to identify, foster and promote trade and partnership opportunities with Ireland. The original MOU emphasized co-operation between the two governments in various business, cultural and educational initiatives. The memorandum of understanding is co-ordinated by Ireland Business Partnerships (IBP) in Newfoundland and Labrador and by the Ireland Newfoundland Partnership (INP) in Ireland.

Media contact: Ken Morrissey, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-4304, 690-0525

2005 09 16                               4:20 p.m.


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