Sir, - I agree with your editorial comments (July 14th) about the proposed new conference centre for Dublin. I have been writing to the Minister for over two years asking him to proceed rapidly with a conference centre. Medical conferences are known to generate significant income for the city and country in which they are held.
I attended the annual meeting of the European Haematology Association in Birmingham, a few weeks ago. The conference centre, which was built 10 years ago, has room for 12,500 delegates. I was informed by the conference administrator that the average conference attracts 4,000 to 5,000 people. I was invited, on behalf of the Haematology Association of Ireland, to host this meeting in Dublin but obviously had to refuse because of lack of adequate facilities.
Medical conferences commonly attract many thousands of delegates. For example, the European Blood and Bone Marrow Society usually has 4,000; but sadly, even when the new conference centre is built, these meetings will not be held in Dublin. - Yours, etc.,
Shaun R. McCann, President, Haematology Association of Ireland, St James's Hospital, Dublin 8.