Over 70 elected representatives from across the political spectrum, North and South, along with other key players in sustainable development recently gathered together to look at the sustainable development challenge and opportunities facing the central border region. The event was organised by the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN) Ltd in the Westville Hotel, Enniskillen on Wednesday 11th November.
ICBAN, whose raison d’etre is to respond to the unique economic and social make up of the central border region by tackling key strategic issues affecting the region, encouraged it’s stakeholders to explore the potential of sustainable development in creating a competitive and innovative regional economy in the Irish Central Border Region. Speakers, who included academics, renewable technology experts, entrepreneurs and regional development specialists, highlighted the need to take into account the wellbeing of future generations. The seminar opened up the debate on this issue as a regional development agenda, and highlighted the opportunities for different sectors to co-ordinate efforts unlocking the job creation, economic and social potential that sustainable development could hold for this region.
As Caitriona Mullan, Programme Manager with ICBAN in her speech highlighted;
“We can either go under and be pulled along by the floods, or we can learn to swim. And maybe create something new for ourselves when what we know has been swept away. We can replace conflict and competition with co-operation and joint management of our natural resources. We can replace aggressive, confrontational politics with the politics of consensus. What I am sure we all agree on is that we would like to hand our world on to future generations in a way that they will have as good or better a quality of life than we have.”
Seminar delegates also heard how the central border region with some of the best natural resources in Europe, has already advanced research into renewable energy - which is currently being transferred into the economy. The seminar was part-financed by the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG IVA Cross-Border Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.
ICBAN recognises a joined-up, cross-border development approach between agencies is needed to unlock the high economic potential of responding to the challenges of Climate Change by more creative means. ICBAN hopes this will be the first of many gatherings to discuss this important aspect of the region’s future. The seminar also afforded ICBAN the opportunity to re-launch its Network of Councillors Initiative as ICBAN Chairperson Cllr Winston Bennett, Cavan explained;
“Creating engagement and networking among the elected representatives from throughout the region has always been at ICBAN’s core and in this new format of bi-annual open meetings, on themes such as Sustainability, we will endeavour to work in partnership to bring in much needed economic investments.”
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Photo Caption: Shane Campbell CEO, ICBAN pictured with Fermanagh District Council Chairman Cllr Bertie Kerr and ICBAN Chairperson, Cllr Winston Bennett, Cavan and the Guest Speakers at the Sustainability Seminar
L-R: Dr John Bartlett, Cllr Bennett, James Duffy, Cllr Kerr, Shane Campbell, Paula Keelagher, Karina Kelly, Dr John Moore, Caitriona Mullan, Aaron Black.
For copies of the presentations please click the links below;
Dr John Bartlett
James Duffy
Paula Keelagher
Karina Kelly
Dr John Moore
Aaron Black
Caitriona Mullan
Full contact details are available by contacting roisin@icban.com
