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As I write this week's blog there is still no definite word emanating from the closed cloisters inhabited at present by the leading negotiating lights of Fine Gael and the Labour Party on the future governing of this island nation. It is unlikely that the future of the marine sphere is foremost in the minds of the negotiators and I wonder what will be the priority attached to the marine when the new Government is announced.

Fine Gael can, logically from the support which the party garnered in the General Election, be expected to dominate a Coalition Government. In that context, the question arises as to whether they will deliver on their pre-election manifesto commitment to re-establish the Department of the Marine?

The promise to do so was unequivocal, a clear undertaking that the situation created by the former Fianna Fail and Green Party Coalition which had decimated maritime issues by spreading them over several Departments of State, would be changed and all would be contained in one Department.

In the event of a Coalition being formed will we hear that "circumstances" have changed and adjustments must be made in the context of Coalition arrangements?

I had the opportunity to question Joan Burton of the Labour Party, one of the party negotiators, prior to the election at an event organised by the European Association of Journalists. She accepted that politicians had not paid enough attention to the marine sphere and said that this attitude should be changed and accepted that the nation could benefit economically as a result.

I hope that I am not being overly cynical towards politicians, born of long years of journalistic experience, in fearing that pre-election promises may be subjected to change.

• This article is reprinted by permission of the EVENING ECHO newspaper, Cork, where Tom MacSweeney writes maritime columns twice weekly. Evening Echo website: www.eecho.ie
Published in Island Nation

Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023 Cruisers Three

A 19-boat Cruisers Three IRC fleet will compete at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023: 

  • GBR 144 Gerda Soling Andrew Riches
  • GBR 9140Y HRT Charisma 22 Mini Tonner Charles Adams
  • 5637Y F A 2 Limbo 6.6 Charlie McAllister
  • IRL 2 Chinook Soling Cormac Murphy
  • IRL 2855 Pamafe First 285 Gerry Costello
  • GBR 9589 Checkmate Impala 28 Ian McMillan
  • FRA 8214 Protis 1/4 Tonner Ian Southworth
  • IRL 89100 Imprint Formula 28 Johnny Flood
  • GBR 2840 She Too She 31 Jonathan Fawcett
  • IRL 7115 Gecko Kevin Darmody
  • IRL 1751 Illegal Kieran Dorgan
  • IRL 8001 Jibberish Lorcan O'Brien McLoughlin
  • IRL 90210 SNOOPY Martin Mahon
  • IRL 246 Saki Nicholson 31 Michael Ryan
  • IRL 35 ELEINT Trapper 300 Michal Matulka
  • IRL 3 ROMANCE II Soling Paul Tully
  • IRL 9554 Kahera Russell Camier
  • GBR 5373 HONEY BEE Hunter HB31 William Partington
  • IRL 307 Wynward Wyn McCormack