Minister officially opens festival in Ireland

Loyola Sullivan, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, today joined with Martin Cullen, Minister of Transport for Ireland, to officially open the Festival of the Sea ceremonies in Dunmore East in the Waterford Estuary region of Ireland. The Festival of the Sea is a new festival which links and celebrates the people and cultures of coastal communities of south-east Ireland and Newfoundland and Labrador.

"I was pleased, on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, to officially open the Festival of the Sea ceremonies and to reinforce the importance of the relationship between this province and Ireland and the opportunities for continued partnership between both our jurisdictions," said Minister Sullivan.

Minister Sullivan also took the opportunity to present to Minister Cullen the limited fine print of Sonny�s Dream. This print features the lyrics of the classic song by songwriter, Ron Hynes and a photo by award-winning photographer, Ray Fennelly. Sonny�s Dream is one of Newfoundland and Labrador�s best known and loved songs and a Canadian folk classic. The limited edition print was launched by Sinnott Promotions in 2004.

In November 1996, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of the Republic of Ireland. In July 2004, government re-affirmed the MOU to signify government�s support of the initiative and to confirm the importance of this relationship to Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) emphasizes cooperation between the two governments in various business, cultural and educational initiatives. The activities under the MOU are coordinated in Newfoundland and Labrador by the Ireland Business Partnership (IBP).

"Newfoundland and Labrador can learn a great deal from the Irish experience, about how Ireland successfully turned its economy around and how that experience can be applied in our province," said Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and Minister responsible for the Ireland Business Partnership. "There are many opportunities in Ireland for Newfoundland and Labrador companies and organizations, and our government is committed to taking a more active role with the IBP in increasing linkages between our two jurisdictions."

The mandate of the IBP is to assist provincial companies and organizations that are interested in developing economic and cultural opportunities with Ireland by identifying common interests and complementary skills; increasing cooperation and awareness among business and cultural agencies; and exchanging up-to-date information on the economy, legislation and regulations. In recognition of the important role of the IBP, government increased its funding in November 2004 to $300,000, an increase of $200,000.

The focus of the Festival of the Sea is to share the experiences of coastal communities. This will be accomplished by a series of cultural, academic and learning opportunities between groups and interests in both regions. The Festival of The Sea will alternate each year between Ireland and Newfoundland and Labrador, with the inaugural event scheduled for May 27 - June 6, 2005 in Ireland. The lead region for Ireland is Waterford-Wexford, and in Newfoundland and Labrador it is the Southern Avalon. The Newfoundland and Labrador Festival is co-chaired by Pat Curran of the Irish Loop Regional Economic Development Board and Calvin Manning of the Avalon Gateway Regional Economic Development Board.

Media contact: Suzanne Strong, Communications, (709) 729-2257

2005 05 27                                           2:35 p.m.