IMF welcomes marine leisure news

13th October 2008

The Irish Marine Federation (IMF) has welcomed news that the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is taking on the responsibility of developing the marine leisure sector, but a department spokesperson has maintained the decision to take on this role had not yet been confirmed.

The marine leisure section of the Department of the Marine sank without trace six months ago when the Department of the Marine was split across five government departments.

Six months later it has resurfaced (unofficially) in the bailiwick of Minister Éamon Ó Cuív, TD. The news has received a guarded welcome across the marine sphere.

At its annual boat show in Malahide last May, IMF chairman Brian O’Sullivan was outspoken in his criticism about the move to drop marine from the government agenda. In an interview with RTE’s Seascapes he said he could not

understand how an island nation could disregard its coastline and called for its immediate reinstatement.

Yesterday a Federation spokesman said “the fact that marine leisure now has a voice at the cabinet table is a significant shot in the arm for a sector worth 700 million euro.”

Published in News From the Afloat.ie Archive

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