There were more political shenanigans in Dublin Castle on Thursday, when a number of offshore dealings were freely and frankly disclosed over a sit-down lunch. This time, however, it was TD and Minister for Public Enterprise Mary O'Rourke in the hot seat, as a special guest of the Irish offshore oil and gas industry, all eager to prove their commitment to the environment.
The Minister was launching an environmental appraisal of Ireland's south-west, which comes in a full-colour 64-page book filled with lovely pictures of Dingle Bay, Slea Head and the Blasket Islands. International observers at the lunch included the US Ambassador, Jean Kennedy Smith, and the Norwegian Ambassador, Helge Vindenes. Six offshore-exploration companies were represented at the lunch, and an address was given by Duane D. Dienes, head of Marathon International, outlining the industry's intentions to monitor its own environmental impact on the south-west coast of Ireland.
Ms Kennedy Smith was not just here for the seafood, and she revealed her ongoing interest in environmental concerns. "I've always been a conservationist," she said. "Right now I'm part of the GLOBE project, which is an environmental initiative in schools around the world. There are 33 Irish schools taking part, and they'll be presenting their projects to us very soon."
Meanwhile, over in the Bank Of Ireland Arts Centre in Foster Place, the Minister For Finance, Charlie McCreevy, was announcing the bank's sponsorship of Network, the organisation for women in business, and yesterday, former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds was the guest of honour at the opening of a new research and development centre at East Point Technology Park.