delegates to the Western Regional Development Conference Assemble: 1.30pm Northern & Western Regional Assembly, Ballaghaderreen

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1 Fáilte Welcome delegates to the Western Regional Development Conference 17th July 2015 Assemble: 1.30pm Northern & Western Regional Assembly, Ballaghaderreen Organiser: Council for the West (as part of the annual Solas Festival in Ballaghaderreen) Sponsor: Gaeltec Utilities Ltd.

2 Delegates, On behalf of the Council for the West, I am pleased to welcome you to our conference. The occasion provides us with a chance to evaluate progress in relation to western regional development in the 21 years since the issue was addressed in a report entitled Crusade for Survival, which was the genesis for Council for the West. More importantly, it presents us with the opportunity to address and consider what is now required to ensure the viability of our towns, villages and rural areas. There is now an urgent need to develop and implement policies and initiatives which will reinvigorate the west and provide us with the resources to breathe new life into each and every corner of our region. Hopefully this conference will contribute significantly to that process. I wish to thank Gerry Finn and the staff of the Northern & Western Assembly for providing us with this appropriate venue for our deliberations. I wish also to thank Gaeltec Utilities Ltd for sponsoring the event which the Council has organised to honour the unique contribution made in relation to western development by our recently deceased former Chairman and stalwart of the Council for many years, the late Sean Hannick, RIP. Ar aghaidh linn go leir. COUNCIL FOR THE WEST Mission statement: To create an environment where people have a choice to live and work in vibrant and sustainable communities. The Council for the West is an independent, non-profit organisation with charitable status, established in 1994 to combat the decline in population and services in rural areas of the West of Ireland. It is comprised of voluntary non-remunerated persons comprising representatives of the main churches, businesses and community activists. Our objectives are: Our objectives are: to influence regional policy and promote balanced regional development to monitor and highlight the socio-economic disparities in the region to co-operate and link with other organisations involved in regional development to promote rural regeneration

3 CONFERENCE PROGRAMME Conference Chair: Patsy McGarry, Irish Times 1.30pm 2.00pm 2.15pm Reception & Registration Welcome & Introduction: Declan O Callaghan (Chair: Council for West) Opening Address: Minister Anne Phelan, Minister for Rural Affairs pm Panel Discussion 1: International and National Context The Regional Perspective: Gerry Finn, CEO Northern & Western Regional Assembly The EU Context: Finola Moylette, Principal Officer for Rural Development (EU and National), Department of Environment, Community and Local Government Strategic Importance of Ireland West Airport: Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, IWA pm Panel Discussion 2: The Local Perspective Crusade for Survival & Tribute to the late Sean Hannick: Bishop Christy Jones Context of Western Regional Development: Professor Emeritus Seamus Caulfield The Farming Context: Sean Finan, President Macra na Feirme Role of the Western Development Commission: Paddy McGuinness, Chair of WDC Communities Creating Jobs: Ivan McPhillips Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Rural Development, GMIT and a member of CCJ pm Closing Remarks & Summary: Conference Chair, Patsy McGarry OUR SPONSOR: Gaeltec Utilities Ltd. Founded in 2003, Gaeltec Utilities Limited has grown to become one of the leading companies operating in the energy and renewable sectors. The company s core business largely focuses on the Transmission and Distribution Energy Sector, with the company also having a substantial reputation for excellence in the Renewable and Telecommunication Sectors. Specializing in design, procurement, project management, construction and commissioning, the company has developed a reputation as a market leader in its field, delivering turnkey projects beyond the expectations of its clients.

4 Patsy McGarry, Conference Chair Patsy McGarry has been Religious Affairs Correspondent of The Irish Times since 1997 and has been with the newspaper since He also is the commissioning editor for articles which are published in the paper s Rite and Reason column every Monday. He was awarded a national journalism award for political comment and analysis in 1993 and the European Religion Writer of the Year Award in He is the author of three books including a biography of former President Mary McAleese, which was published in He is a frequent contributor on local radio as well as on national radio and TV. Minister Anne Phelan, T.D. Ann Phelan TD is the first woman ever to be elected in the Carlow/Kilkenny Constituency. In July 2014, she was nominated by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D to the position of Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with special responsibility for Rural Economic Development (implementation of the CEDRA report). In December 2014, she was assigned additional responsibility for Local, Community and Rural Economic Development issues at the Department Environment, Community and Local Government. Gerry Finn, Director of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly Gerry Finn is the Director of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (formerly the Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly). The assembly is based in Ballaghaderreen since its establishment in A native of Ballinalsoe, Gerry previously served as Director of Community and Enterprise, with Roscommon County Council, as CEO of Roscommon County Enterprise Board and as Chairman of Roscommon Partnership Board. Finola Moylette, Head of Rural Development Unit (DECLG) As head of the Rural Development Unit in the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Finola is responsible for the implementation of the LEADER elements of the EU co-funded Rural Development Programme and also for Rural Development Policy and National Schemes such as Rural Recreation. Finola was very involved in the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) and continues to be involved by being part of the Interdepartmental Group and the special advisory group charged with the reports implementation. Joe Gilmore, Managing Director, Ireland West Airport Knock Joe has responsibility for the ongoing development of Ireland West Airport Knock, involving attracting new routes and business, involvement in the development of improved infrastructure for the region for economic growth and building upon being the gateway to the West of Ireland and the airport of choice for business and leisure travelers across the West, North West and Midlands regions. Joe has over 20 years experience in senior management positions held in both multinational global businesses and Irish owned private and public sector organizations.

5 Bishop Emeritus Christopher Jones Bishop Jones was a founding member of the Council for the West and continues to represent the Western Bishops on the Council. A native of Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon he was educated in Summerhill College, Sligo, St. Patrick s College, Maynooth, UCG and in UCD (Social Science). He was ordained priest in June 1962 and was Bishop of Elphin Diocese from 1994 to He was a former chairperson of the National Council for Travelling People and advisor to the Minister for the Environment in this regard. Professor Emeritus Seamus Caulfield Seamus Caulfield is a former Professor of Archaeology at UCD. A Belderrig native, Seamus led a team of archaeologists in the research and location of stone-walled fields, houses and megalithic tombs now known as the much visited Céide Fields near Ballycastle. Seamus takes a keen interest in Western Development and is an accomplished analyst of policy and trends in regional development. He is a long-time member of the Council for the West. Sean Finan, National President of Macra na Feirme Sean Finan is from Ballinlough Co Roscommon and was recently elected the 35th President of Macra na Feirme. Sean is a part time beef farmer and before his recent elevation to National President of Macra na Feirme he worked as a Civil Engineer in the Construction industry. He has held various roles with Macra na Feirme at club, county and national level including Vice President and Treasurer. Sean hopes to grow and develop the Macra na Feirme Organisation over the next two years and to represent and lobby on issues which affect young farmers and rural young people at an Irish and European level. Paddy McGuinness, Chairman of the Western Development Commission Paddy McGuinness is a native of Monaghan but has been living in County Mayo for most of his adult life. Paddy is an entrepreneur in his own right and owns a household goods store in Castlebar. Paddy first shot to prominence when he was to the forefront in lobbying for a third-level institute in his adopted county. A former Castlebar Town Councillor, Paddy served for many years on Mayo County Council. He was appointed to the chair of the WDC in Ivan McPhillips, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Rural Development, GMIT Ivan Mc Phillips is a lecturer in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Rural Development at GMIT. He is a 2005 recipient of the European Innovation Award for Entrepreneurial Education. Ivan is a graduate of GMIT, NUI, Galway, IPA and the Marketing Institute of Ireland. From 2001 to 2014, he was a director of SCCUL Enterprises Ltd. which developed and built the Ballybane Neighbourhood Village Project and Ballybane Enterprise Centre. Ivan is a former co-operative manager and regional manager of MFG Teo.; a former director of Cumas Teo, Irish Rural Link. Ivan is a also a member and advocate for Communities Creating Jobs.

6 A True Champion of the West: Sean Hannick: ( ) Sean Hannick was a founding member of the Council for the West and was chair of the Council from 2002 to He was one of the leading figures in the establishment of the Western Development Commission and was a board member for two successive terms while also serving on the Western Investment Fund. He was a strong supporter of all western development projects. A former Mayo Man of the Year he was also a founding member of Killala Chamber and Development Association and was a dedicated supporter of Killala and Mayo GAA Teams. Sean was a born entrepreneur and established Killala Precision Engineering in 1981 and later was a co-founder of Gaeltec Utilities Ltd in Sean was driven, focused, hardworking, decent, honourable and steadfast in short all the qualities that make us a good and generous people embodied in one person. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis