Eamon Ryan
Ceist:84 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will report on the European Small Islands Network seminar held recently on Inis Oírr; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24027/03]
Written Answers. - European Small Islands Network.
As the Deputy may be aware, I attended and gave an address at the recent 3rd annual European Small Islands Network conference which was held on Inis Oírr on 11 to 13 September 2003.
While the official report of the conference will not be available from the organisers until later this week, I can confirm to the Deputy that the holding of this conference has proved to be a most fruitful exercise as it provided a forum for communities from small islands all across Europe to share information with a view to progressing issues of common and specific interest to them. The European Small Islands Network (ESIN) represents over 1,130 islands with permanent populations of between one and 5,000 comprising a total population of almost 99,500 people and it provides a voice to these communities which otherwise would not be heard.
A number of issues were agreed by ESIN members at the recent conference including that the European Commission and the European Parliament be urged to: give special consideration to the needs of the small islands of Europe; recognise the distinctiveness of small islands, particularly in the context of framing cohesion policy and Structural Funds for the period post 2006; and acknowledge that, because small islands have special needs, ESIN should have a role in representing the interests of these islands direct to European institutions.
Running in parallel with the conference was a youth networking seminar which brought together young islanders from six European countries to discuss common problems faced by young people on the islands of Europe. This initiative, in my view, is to be greatly welcomed as island communities will continue to dwindle if efforts are not made to provide island youth with opportunities comparable to those available on the mainland.
I welcome the fact that ESIN now proposes to incorporate the young islanders ideas and proposals into its future work programme and to develop this initiative in future years with a view to increasing opportunities for the exchange of young people between islands of different countries. ESIN members also welcomed the announcement that Ireland will be the first EU state to host a major conference on island affairs during our Presidency of the EU in 2004.
I have arranged to have a copy of my conference address forwarded to the Deputy and I will also forward the official report of the conference when it becomes available.