#ISLAND NATION – As I said for over twenty years when presenting Seascapes on RTE Radio, 'welcome aboard' and you are very welcome to join me on this weekly look at maritime affairs in Ireland - shipping, fishing, leisure, angling, sailing, marine developments, offshore energy research, general boating, inland waterways - included and more! I'm hoping this will help to advance coverage of the maritime sphere which is lacking in the general national media.
I have a little book on my desk titled "The Call of the Sea," which, if I had sufficient copies, I would give to those politicians, civil servants, economists, commentators, those in the media, those in positions of influence who still fail to recognise that they are inhabitants of a small island on the western edge of Europe, which is rich in maritime resources.
It is in and on these resources that the future of this nation could benefit, through projects founded on resources that cannot be taken away at the whim of foreign investors who, when no longer satisfied with the profits to be extracted from their operations in Ireland or when Irish State grants which attracted them to this island run out, remove themselves and their investment from this country and head elsewhere. This has happened and may happen again.
Dr.Peter Heffernan, Chief Executive of the Marine Institute, made a comment to me many years ago in an interview about the importance of maritime-based jobs which "cannot be helicoptered away" from Ireland, an analogy which has stayed in my mind having seen multi-national executives arrive at Irish locations to announce the closure of operations and the loss of jobs.
While a level of inward investment from abroad is needed in these difficult days and risks have to be taken in this regard because our unemployment and economic situation is so bad, seeking foreign investment should be only one aspect of national development. The maritime sector should be much higher in State attention and accorded far more stimulus.
Regrettably, this is still not so, though there are some positive moves and, like many others, I wait to see what the promised national maritime development plan will bring when it is unveiled later this year. Marine Minister Simon Coveney has indicated that the Taoiseach is closely involved in the preparation of this. Both men have maritime tradition within their families.
Dr Peter Heffernan CEO, Marine Institute, (right) and Prof Ian Wright, Deputy Director, Science and Technology, National Oceanography Centre (UK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in late April, in the presence of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, TD (standing) to foster closer co-operation and joint activities between Ireland and the UK in the area of marine research, development and innovation.
It was encouraging in the past few months to hear President Michael D.Higgins speak on several occasions about the importance of the marine sphere and to listen to the man commanding the Naval Service, Flag Officer Commodore Mark Mellett, outline the need for an" attack on unemployment" through the marine sector.
Sea blindness, he said, had been created in the Treaty of Independence which ushered in an era when institutions of the Irish State took minimal interest in maritime matters.
He spoke at a conference in the National Maritime College in Ringaskiddy where planning approval has been given for the Beaufort Laboratory, a major international marine research centre. Between the Irish Marine and Energy Cluster, University College Cork, the Naval Service and the Cork Institute of Technology, this project has strong potential and it is fair to say that State financial support has been committed.
But more is needed. Sea blindness prevails in too many sectors of Irish life in a nation whose lifeblood, sustenance, main channel of communication for exports and imports is the sea. Our ports are essential to the economy, so I find it questionable that the government should be considering a proposal that the ports should be sold off. This seems analogous to a householder in need of money, selling the front door to another and then paying for right of access.
Economic advice is not always correct and there is reason to challenge the opinions of government advisors, particularly in relation to the sale of our ports.
Over the next weeks THIS ISLAND NATION on the Afloat.ie website will be a forum for discussion. Leave your comment below in our comment box, email me with your views to: [email protected] and I'll also be expressing my views on Facebook and Twitter @TomMacSweeney
"The ocean is a wilderness reaching round the globe ... washing the wharves of our cities and the gardens of our seaside residences" – quotation from Henry David Thoreau in the 19th century.
IRISH EELS
This fishery was closed by the Irish Government in 2009, in response to an EU request for a partial closure. The then Government decided on a total closure. Eel fishing continued in other European countries. A review of that ban is due in June. Small businesses closed, jobs were lost and ancillary businesses in boat provision, maintenance, etc., were also affected. Most Irish eels were exported and other European countries picked up the Irish export market.
Do Irish politicians go too far to please the EU?
CUDDLY POLAR BEAR CUBS - but will they survive?
Another light on the problems in the Arctic, due apparently to global warming. Male polar bears may be turning cannibalistic towards their own offspring. A new film narrated by Meryl Streep and with music by Beatle Paul McCartney has pictures of a mother polar bear defending her cubs against a male bear. "To the Arctic" has been made in IMAX high resolution by 66-year-old Greg Mac Gillivray, an experienced Californian surfer and film-maker.
• A monthly THIS ISLAND NATION newsletter will be circulated on the last Friday of each month. If you would like a copy, email me at [email protected]
