Sir, The recent marine conference in Sligo deserved more coverage than it got in the national media, for a number of reasons. It was notable, in the first instance, for Marine Minister Sean Barrett's admission on RTE Television that successive governments had done precious little to promote Ireland's maritime interests down the years. That, at least, set the record straight and it was a useful point from which seriously to promote the national effort to do something about it.
Full marks to the Marine Institute for pulling together, at what was generally agreed to be a most inappropriate time of year, so many knowledgeable people who were not shy about airing a number of contentious issues. If it was the intention of the institute to test to resolve and commitment of people alleged to have an interest in maritime affairs in general by this timing and location, then more power to them. They succeeded beyond their own ambitions.
This was their third in a series of gatherings leading to the formation at long last of a national maritime policy. The first drew 200 delegates, the second 300 and this one, on the verge of the Christmas break, just under 400.
The conference produced good papers, solid debate, positive responses from the floor and a determination by delegates to continue to seek full tax remission in the case of equipment for rescue and safety. It was exceptionally well structured.
Full marks, too, to the Minister of State, Eamon Gilmore, for his speech to bring down the curtain on a most productive operation. It was at once a most professional summing up of hours of debate and discussion, as well as an off the cuff speech of singular quality. Conference delegates headed home to the Christmas celebrations feeling that at long last a serious and solid effort was being mounted from all quarters to our national maritime interest. Yours, etc., Springhill Park, Killiney, Co Dublin.