Treacy announces establishment of Newfoundland/Labrador Partnership Board to promote economic relationship between Ireland and Newfoundland/Labrador.

Mr. Noel Treacy, T.D., Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce, formally inaugurated to-day (Tuesday 24th April 2001) a new Newfoundland / Labrador Partnership Board, whose main objective will be to promote economic and related co-operation, between Ireland and the Canadian province of Newfoundland/Labrador. The Partnership Board has been established under the auspices of the political Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), entered into in 1996 between the Government of Ireland and Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and reaffirmed in 1999. The Memorandum committed the two Governments to explore the possibilities of mutually advantageous economic cooperation through government, industrial, business and cultural activities.

The inauguration of the new Partnership Board, coincided with launch of the major new RTE/CBC television mini-series of Bernice Morgan’s epic novel "Random Passage" - a story of the battle for survival of settlers, from Ireland and England, in 19th century Newfoundland. This is a co-production between Passage Films of Newfoundland, Subotica Entertainment from Ireland and Cité-Amérique of Quebec. The series is based on the award-winning best-seller of the same name by Newfoundland author, Bernice Morgan, which is now published in Ireland and Britain by Mentor books of Dublin, under rights acquired under the MoU.

Speaking at the inauguration today, Minister Treacy said that the joint mini-series production is a manifestation of the kind of collaboration which we seek to encourage over the whole gamut of economic, educational, social and cultural areas between the province and Ireland.

While citing examples of the range of co-operation that has emerged under the auspices of the MoU over the last number of years, Minister Treacy made the point that the overall effort - suffered because of the absence of a dedicated structure to give it drive and impetus on an ongoing basis. The establishment of this new Partnership Board today will fill that vacuum”.

Minister Treacy noted that a mirror image Board - Ireland Business Partnerships Board - had been in operation in Newfoundland for some time. In establishing our complementary structure, we had learned from the Newfoundland experience. Apart from providing the necessary co-ordination and promoting function, the new Board would act as a focal point for pursuing the objectives of the MoU and bring consistency through time in delivering on the MoU agenda” said Minister Treacy.

The attendance at the launch today, included the Canadian Ambassador, Mr. Ron Irwin and the Executive Director of the Newfoundland-based Ireland Business Partnerships Board, Mr. Kirk Tilley, as well as the author of Random Passage, Ms. Bernice Morgan, those involved in the film and representatives of the Irish Publishers and the original Newfoundland publishers, Breakwater Books.

The Canadian Ambassador, Mr. Irwin, expressed his support for the Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and Newfoundland commenting, on the tremendous contribution which it has made to relations between the two countries. He went on to say "that the Government of Canada, through the Embassy in Dublin, will be pleased to continue to support the efforts of Newfoundland and Labrador to promote economic, cultural and academic relations with Ireland. We see great potential for increased bilateral trade and investment with Ireland, and this MoU is one of the best ways of making that happen", stated Ambassador Irwin.

The new Irish Board is a public/private partnership, comprising people which includes representatives from Government Departments and the State’s industrial development agencies, representatives of business, of the educational sector and the Marine Institute. The Board will be chaired by Minister Treacy and has a budget for the current year of £250,000.

Membership of the Newfoundland/Labrador Partnership Board

Mr. Noel Treacy, T.D. Minister for Science and Technology Chairman

Mr. Walter Kirwan Assistant Secretary/Deputy Chairman Department of the Taoiseach

Mr. Seamus O Morain Assistant Secretary Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Mr. Peter Coyle Director Enterprise Ireland

Dr. Eamon Darcy Assistant Director General FÁS

Ms. Maria Callinan CEO Laois County Enterprise Board

Mr. John D. Coyle Chairman Hygeia Chemicals Ltd.

Mr. Seamus Butler Managing Director Butler Manufacturing Services Ltd. Longford

Mr. James Farrell Managing Director SF Engineering Ltd. Sligo

Dr. Peter Heffernan Marine Institute Mr. Kieran McGowan Company Director

Prof John Kelly Dept of Chemical Engineering, UCD

Ms. Una Murphy Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art/Design/Technology

Honorary Member His Excellency Ronald A. Irwin Canadian Ambassador