MIIN Spotlight - Údarás na Gaeltachta

[Tras-scríofa] [Transcribed]

1. Cuir tú féin in aithne. Cén ról atá agat agus céard é príomhfheidhm do ról-sa? Introduce yourself and the organisation. What is your role and focus area?

Mise Máire Ní Éinniú, agus tá mé ag obair le Údarás na Gaeltachta i dtaobh forbairt earnáil na mara. Is as ceantar Iorras Aithneach i nGaeltacht Chonamara dom féin.

Táim ag forbairt dhá cheann de thograí straitéiseach de chuid Údarás na Gaeltachta, Páirc na Mara, i gCill Chiaráin, Páirc nuálaíochta mara ísle charbóin agus Ros a Mhil mar Mol straitéiseach don earnáil fuinnimh in-athnuaite amach ón gcósta.

I mó ról laethúil, tacaím le gnónann nuathiosaíochta agus fiontar in earnáil mara le fostaíocht inbhuanaithe a chruthú agus a chothú agus chun eacnamaíocht a mhéadú sna gceantair Ghaeltachta.

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1. Introduce yourself and the organisation. What is your role and focus area?

I’m Máire Ní Éinniú, and I’m working on the development of the marine sector with Údarás na Gaeltachta. I’m from the Iorras Aithneach area of the Connemara Gaeltacht.

I’m developing two of Údarás na Gaeltachta's strategic projects, Páirc na Mara, in Cill Chiaráin,  a low carbon marine innovation park, and Ros a Mhil as a strategic hub for the offshore renewable energy sector.

In my day-to-day role, I support start-ups and enterprises in the marine sector to create and sustain sustainable employment and to grow the economy in Gaeltacht areas

2. Cén fáth ar roghnaigh tú a ghul ag obair in earnáil na mara?

Caith mé m’óige ag plé le curachaí, báid seoil agus féilte mara. Ach inniu, feicim go bhfuil luach i bhfad níos mó leis an bhfarraige ná caitheamh aimsire amháin.

Cuireann earnáil na mara postanna ar ard-chaighdeán ar fáil do dhaoine óga a bhfuil spéis acu i gcúrsaí eolaíochta, innealtóireachta, taighde agus go leor eile. Cheana féin, tá cliaint chomhlachtaí ag an Údarás, fud fad na Gaeltachta, atá ag cur sár-fhostaíocht ar fáil do chéimithe óga.

Chomh maith leis sin,  tá earnáil na mara mór millteach  cludaíonn sé gach rud ó iasc go fuinneamh in-athnuaite. Má chuirtear luach lenár n-acmhainní ar nós iasc agus feamainn, éascaíonn sé forbairtí a chur chun cinn san earnáil chógaisíochta le deiseanna gan teorainn ar nós leighis chun cabhrú le diaibéiteas , nó bithphlaisteach déanta as feamainne.

Is earnáil fíor-spreagúil é seo agus táim an-shásta go bhfuil mé mo chuid oibre fite fuaite san earnáil seo.

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2. Why did you choose to work in the Marine Industry?

I spent my childhood amongst currachs, sailboats and  sea festivals. But today, I see the value of the sea, and it provides us with more than just recreation.

The marine sector provides high-quality jobs for young people with an interest in science, engineering, research and much more. Already, Údarás na Gaeltachta has client companies throughout the Gaeltacht that are providing excellent employment opportunities for young graduates.

Also, the marine sector is incredibly vast, covering everything from fish to renewable energy. By adding value to our resources such as fish and seaweed, it facilitates the promotion of developments in the pharmaceutical sector with unlimited opportunities such as medicine to help with diabetes, or bioplastics made from seaweed.

This is a very exciting industry and I’m delighted that my job is so involved in it.

3. Céard é príomhaidhm Údarás na Gaeltachta?

Tá Údarás na Gaeltachta freagrach as forbairt eacnamaíoch, shóisialta agus chultúrtha na Gaeltachta chun a chinntiú go maire an Ghaeilge mar phríomhtheanga labhartha laethúil do na glúnta atá le teacht.  

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3. What is Údarás na Gaeltachta’s main aim?

Údarás na Gaeltachta is responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht to ensure that Irish remains the main spoken language on a daily basis for future generations. 

4. Céard é an deis is mó, i do thuairimse, do chomhlachtaí agus eagraíochtaí atá páirteach in earnáil na mara in Éirinn sna 5-10 mbliana amach romhainn?

Baineann na deiseanna is mó le tabhairt faoi forbairtí ciorclach mar shampla, tá sé ríthábhachtach an oiread luach is feidir a fháil ó speiceas iasc agus feaminne , tá bhfad níos mó deiseanna ann ná bia , is féidir cailciam a dhéanamh ó chnámha éisc, olaí ó eochraí eisc, agus collagen do chraiceann an duine. Silim nár mór imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar an bpoitéinseal maidir le fuilleach agus biththáirgí le béim ar leith ar dheiseanna don thionscnaimh gheilleagair chiorclaigh. Is dócha gur feidir biteicneolaíocht mara a thabhairt ar na tairgí seo.

Agus gan dabht - fuinnimh inathnuaite amach ón chosta.  

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4. What do you see as the biggest opportunity for your company as part of Ireland’s Marine Industry in the coming 5-10 years?

The greatest opportunities are to undertake circular developments for instance, it’s crucial to get as much value as possible from fish and seaweed species , there are far more opportunities than food , calcium can be made from fish bones, oils from fish roe, and collagen for human skin. I believe that the potential for waste and bioproducts needs to be investigated, with particular emphasis on opportunities for circular economy initiatives. These products can probably be called marine biotechnology.

And of course – offshore renewable energy.

5. Céard é an dúshlán is mó, i do thuairimse, do chomhlachtaí agus eagraíochtaí atá páirteach in earnáil na mara in Éirinn sna 5-10 mbliana amach romhainn?

Daoine, teicneolaíocht, agus an timpeallacht.

Is gá oibriú anois chun daoine a mhealladh agus a choinneáil san earnáil chun freastal ar an mbearna i scileanna . Tar éis go bhfuil muid ina cónaí ar oileán muid déanann daoine dearmaid ar ná deiseanna maith atá san earnáil seo. Tá deis ann do gnóanna eile ag feidhmiú in earnálacha eile ar nós innealtóireacht, fuinneamh, bia agus teicneolaíocht, a gcuid tairiscintí a leathnú amach chuig earnáil na mara.

Tá teicneolaíocht ag athrú chomh sciobadh, agus tá sé deacair coinneal suas leis.

Agus an timpeallacht – an timpeallacht gnó agus nádúr maidir le athrú aeráide.

Ach tá an trí théama sin nasctha go mór le chéile agus taispeánann siad an gá atá le comhoibriú trasearnálacha chun teacht ar réitigh agus todhchaí na hearnála a dhaingniú.!

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5. What is the biggest challenge, in your opinion, facing businesses like yours in the marine industry today?

People, technology, and the environment.

We now need to work to attract and retain people in the industry to meet the skills gap. Considering that we live on an island, people tend to forget the amazing opportunities the marine industry has. There is an opportunity for other businesses operating in other industries such as engineering, energy, food and technology, to expand their businesses to the marine sector.

Technology is changing so rapidly, and it's hard to keep up with it!

And the environment – the business environment and nature in terms of climate change.

But these three themes are very much linked together and show the need for cross-sectoral collaboration to find solutions and secure the future of the industry!

6. An bhfuil aon rud ar mhaith leat a roinnt le lucht féachana MIIN faoi Údarás na Gaeltachta?

Is féidir libh tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoi na postanna in earnáil na mara ar shuíomh Údaráis na Gaeltachta nó is féidir teacht chugam – trí r-phost nó LinkedIn má tá comhairle uait i dtaobh todhchaí in earnáil na mara, bheinn breá sásta aon chúnamh a thabhairt, má tá me in ann!

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6. Is there anything you would like to share about Údarás na Gaeltachta with the network?

You can find out more about the jobs in the marine sector on the údarás na Gaeltachta's website or you can contact me – by email or on LinkedIn if you need advice on the future of the marine sector, I would be happy to offer any assistance, if I can!