Deputy Joe McHugh
The Co-Chairman of the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly, Joe McHugh TD, has said that it will be a major boost for Donegal to welcome parliamentarians from Ireland North and South, Scotland, Wales, England, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man to Letterkenny for the 46th plenary of the Assembly on March 4th and 5th.
Deputy McHugh said he was honoured to bring the Assembly to the North-West in the year of the Gathering 2013 and Derry City of Culture.
Highlighting the economic potential of renewable energy generation for areas like the North-West, Deputy McHugh said that a key focus of this plenary will be to concentrate on how the British and Irish Governments, along with the other devolved regional parliaments and assemblies, can work together to deliver more in terms of growth opportunities for this important sector.
Deputy McHugh commented, “I am delighted that the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly is coming to Donegal on March 4th and 5th. It is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase this unique part of the island to an international audience of public representatives who can carry the message back to their respective constituencies.”
“It is quite appropriate that the theme of the 46th plenary of the Assembly is ‘Energy across Borders – Delivering the Economic Opportunities’. Almost more so than any other part of this island, the North West has the potential to capitalise from an energy export market and from the economic opportunities that will arise from a vibrant renewable energy generation sector.
“A key aim of this plenary will be to explore the economic possibilities that arise from the energy sector through closer cooperation and electricity exporting. Although there is an all-island single electricity market, a key focus must now be the development of an ‘East-West’ structure and this will be explored in this plenary.
“The plenary session will be attended by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD and by legislators and energy industry leaders from across Ireland and Britain who will discuss how innovation in the energy sector can deliver economic opportunities for our islands. It will be a fantastic boost for Donegal and will be an opportunity to show off what is best about the county.”
He added: “It is also timely that this grouping is coming together in Donegal on what happens to be the year of the Gathering 2013 and equally, Derry City of Culture. Both of these two major cultural events will be represented at the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly.”