Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am particularly delighted to be here this evening in the Corrib Great Southern, near to the shores of the beautiful Galway Bay.
It is a particular pleasure to have been asked to launch the second IASC Conference and Trade Show this weekend.
IASC - the Irish Association of Seafood Companies - develops, promotes and represents the interests of independent seafood retailers and wholesalers in Ireland. Established in 1997, IASC is a fast growing united voice for independents, already with a membership in excess of 80 companies.
Long before I became Marine Minister, I was very aware of the importance and potential of the independent seafood sector in Ireland. Apart from Dublin on the east coast, most coastal communities around the country have an IASC member operating effectively and efficiently in either seafood retailing or processing creating employment for themselves and their staff. The IASC businesses hold great potential for bringing further employment and prosperity to their areas.
Among the traditional difficulties in the industry have been the problems associated with working in isolation and the feeling of isolation by the owner/managers and their staff due to the nature of the industry. IASC has had the role of bringing a large number of micro and small businesses together under one body.
Its achievements to date have been impressive. It has co-ordinated effective member networking through the development of six strong regional clusters and like today, staging the annual national conference and trade show which bring all the members from around the country together under one roof.
Among the very important achievements has been the provision of tailored training for the seafood industry through the IASC Skillnet programme. The IASC Skillnet is funded by member companies and the Training Networks Programme, an initiative of Skillnets Ltd supported by the National Training Fund. The training programmes in business management, food safety and fish filleting training have been developed and delivered by IASC through identifying the common training needs in the members.
I know there are also delegates from FAS here this evening, and they are hoping to look at the national roll-out of these programmes. I hope in particular that they will give serious attention to food safety training and filleting training as an apprenticeship scheme encouraging new entrants into the trade in this traditional craft, a much needed development.
IASC is partly funded by BIM through their MIP programme, supporting promotions and marketing initiatives. An example of this last year was a series of regional promotions of fish shops around the country. Tomorrow BIM will be launching their IASC Retailer of the Year competition, driving standards and best practice in the industry. Remaining with the retail sector, John McKenna the well known food writer, will be presenting possibilities of launching a consumers guide of specialist seafood retailers.
The Association actively represents and lobbies member interests particular in the issues of food safety. David Lyons from the FSAI will be presenting tomorrow on working together to develop a guide for the industry to help implement this new legislation.
I would like to congratulate the strong regionally representative management Committee, whom I have met this evening, for what they have achieved since 1997.
I also would like to commend Martina Clarke, who over this past 3 years has been employed full-time on the needs of the members, and has achieved much success in this area.
I look forward to seeing the exciting projects which you are undertaking coming to fruition and as that happens, seeing an increasing developing profile of this important sector to the seafood industry.
I would like to thank the many exhibitors from all around the country for taking part in the trade show and I encourage you to develop your relationships with the trade. In particular, it would be great to see the seafood processors and retailers in the northern community and their service suppliers coming together on a joint conference and trade show next year, which may be possible to co-ordinate with our friends in Northern Ireland Seafood.
The recently formed cross-border Trout Producers Group shows this idea of working closer together for everyone’s benefit. I as Marine Minister and my Department are looking forward to developing stronger links with each sector in the seafood industry where, through co-operation and communication, there are shared benefits for everybody.
Finally, I would like to formally open the second IASC Conference and Trade Show and wish the Association every success in continuing their development and making this event a national key annual event in our calendars.
ENDS