Sir, – The Dún Laoghaire Business Association would like to welcome the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Master Plan and the access provided by the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company to stakeholders to make submissions.
The Harbour Master Plan has the capacity to deliver more than 1,600 jobs, which is hugely significant for Dún Laoghaire and the surrounding area, especially in the current economic climate. At present the new generation of large cruise ships can only be accommodated in Cobh, Co Cork. If Dún Laoghaire Harbour can be developed to accommodate cruise ships and new business opportunities, as envisaged in the master plan, this lucrative tourism industry could be tapped and would surely benefit not only Dún Laoghaire but the east coast as a whole.
The Dún Laoghaire Business Association is a staunch supporter of any proposals to help industry and community in our area, and welcomes any positive change in this regard. We feel it is everyone’s responsibility, as a community, to remain involved in every stage of the planning and submissions process.
We must all remain positive and continue our battle against negative forces if we are to succeed and help breathe back life into the east coast. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Hats off to the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company for its creative and ambitious plan for the development of the harbour and for the hugely imaginative project to build a world-class diaspora museum on perhaps Ireland’s most appropriate site. This and other initiatives, have the potential to make Ireland world leaders in developing her diaspora. In a sector which has traditionally lacked innovation, we are seeing focus and originality. There is, globally, a growing awareness of how countries can connect with their diasporas in mutually beneficial ways. There are now more than 215 million people who live in a country other than the one they were born in.
The potential for Ireland, with one of the world’s largest diasporas, is obvious. China, Taiwan, Israel and India have clearly recognised the power in their diasporas and have benefited enormously. We now have the possibility to make Ireland the world’s leading country in this sector and the national diaspora museum has the potential to become the jewel in the Irish diaspora crown, with a significant role Ireland’s economic recovery. It should be welcomed and supported wholeheartedly. – Yours, etc,