Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney TD today announced the details of a major Conference on Our Ocean Wealth which is being held in Dublin Castle on 18 June 2014.

Announcing the Conference, Minister Coveney commented that “the implementation of Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth is a whole of Government initiative. Our vision is that our nation’s ocean wealth will be a key element of our economic recovery and sustainable growth and we will continue to work with the sector’s stakeholders to achieve this vision for our citizens”.

The Conference is the first annual review of progress in implementing the Government’s 2012 publication Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth: An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland. The Government sees the marine sector as an important pillar to our national recovery and Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth is a key driver for developing the sector to meet our growth targets for it.

The Conference will cover four main themes: The Global Opportunity for Irish Seafood; Research Innovation and Emerging Sectors; Energy – Offshore Hydrocarbons; and Where Land Meets the Sea – Opportunities and Challenges for Marine Tourism. Key speakers will address these four themes followed by a panel discussion with relevant stakeholders.

The Conference will be opened by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, T.D. and will include contributions from Minister Coveney, Pat Rabbitte, T.D., Minister for Communications,

Energy and Natural Resources; Sean Sherlock, T.D., Minister for Research Innovation; and Fergus O’Dowd, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

The full detailed Conference programme is available at www.ouroceanwealth.ie.

Note to Editors:

Our Ocean Wealth Conference

The Our Ocean Wealth Conference is the first annual review of the implementation of the   Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth - An Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland. The Conference, which is free to attend, will focus on the promotion of growth and jobs in the marine sector and provide an opportunity for Government Departments and Agencies in association with the marine community to review progress in implementing Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth. The conference will discuss achievements to date, sustainable growth and employment opportunities for the future, the challenges that face us and the actions required to drive progress.

Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth

Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth was launched in July 2012 by The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, TD, and its key objective of the Plan is to double the value of Ireland's ocean wealth to 2.4% of GDP by 2030 and increase the turnover from our ocean economy to exceed €6.4bn by 2020.

The Plan presents a roadmap for the Government's vision to tap into a €1,200 billion global market for seafood, tourism, oil and gas, renewable ocean energy and new applications for health, medicine and technology. It sets out three high-level goals to achieve a thriving maritime economy, healthy ecosystems, and to increase our engagement with the sea.

The Plan focuses on the State creating the right conditions to promote investment and enable growth. Good governance and maritime safety, security and surveillance of our ocean wealth are key to achieving the targets. The provision of a robust planning and licensing framework, underpinned by robust legislation and regulation can support sustainable development and create a degree of certainty, as well as a safe and stable environment for business and consumers.

Marine Coordination Group

The Conference is being organised by the Inter-Departmental Marine Coordination Group which is chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and convened by the Department of the Taoiseach. The Group meets regularly, bringing together representatives of departments with an involvement in marine issues to discuss and co-ordinate issues that require inter-departmental action.

Members of the Group are at Assistant Secretary level with the following Departments represented:

Taoiseach Agriculture, Food and the Marine Defence Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Environment, Community and Local Government Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Public Expenditure and Reform

Transport, Tourism and Sport

The Attorney General’s Office and Marine Institute also participate

View Press Release as a PDF:  DAFMPR 77/2014 (pdf 648Kb) 

Date Released: 03 June 2014