Ireland may be the world's 11th most competitive economy, but it has declined to participate in the world showcase, Expo '98, due to "lack of funds". What is worse, the theme of this year's Expo in Lisbon, Portugal, is the International Year of the Oceans. Ireland has one of the longest ocean coastlines in Europe.
The Marine Institute, which marked the year yesterday with the opening of a poster exhibition, intends to make up for some lost ground by sending three secondary school students to Portugal for the Expo opening.
Sandra Hamilton, Catherine Robinson and Arlene Beaney of St Catherine's School, Killybegs, Co Donegal, were awarded the team trip for their entry in a poster competition run by the institute.
The three Donegal students will witness a presentation of the ocean charter at the Expo opening in Lisbon, and will visit the new aquarium in Lisbon. They will also meet other European scientists involved in marine research.
Second prize of £200 in the Marine Institute competition was awarded yesterday to three students from the North Wall community in Dublin port, while third prize of £100 was given to members of the Irish Youth Sailing School in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, said it was entirely fitting on "this historic day for the whole island of Ireland" that the unique relationship with the seas and oceans that surrounded us was celebrated. "Just as we on this small oceanic island are setting out to live together in harmony and peace, so our relationship with the oceans must be based on harmony and on mutual respect and understanding."
The Marine Institute has said the decision not to participate in Expo was taken five years ago, when spaces were being booked. At the time, it was felt there were no funds to take part.
The institute has, nonetheless, co-ordinated several initiatives to mark the Year of the Oceans, including the school poster competition, the exhibition of the entries, an Irish Sea exhibition which will be hosted simultaneously in Dublin and Cardiff in September, an input into national science week in November, and a provisionally planned national marine science conference in December.
The Day of the Ocean exhibition of school posters remains at the Enfo centre in Dublin for one week, before travelling to other locations.