Meeting with Trevor Sargent

I had a meeting with Trevor Sargent (TD for the Green Party) on Friday night regarding the National Marine Centre. He was genuinely interested and committed to our cause. He recognises the obstacles which we face and is working really hard to tackle them. Not only are there funding problems but, given the economic climate, the people who previously tolerated the idea of the Centre's establishment are now opposing its establishment.

It is important to understand at the stage that Ireland needs a National Marine Centre-recession or no recession! We need it for educational purposes, to rehabilitate our seals and to initiate new conservation projects concerning other marine life including endangered species. Without the Marine Centre we are falling behind many other European countries in the environmental and conservation stakes.

Trevor understands all this and was due to have a meeting with the Board this morning. I will hopefully receive some feedback from him in the coming days and will update you all then.

Katie.