On the 9th February 2021 the first LSG meeting of Semester 4 took place via Zoom as Ireland is in strict Level 5 Covid19 restrictions, meaning that we are obliged to work from home and are unable to travel beyond 5km. Michael Tunney, SinCE-AFC PP6 Project Manager chaired the meeting.
Attendees – Michael Tunney, Maura Toner, Eve-Anne McCarron, Margaret Campbell, Margaret McGettigan, Ernan McGettigan, Karoline Sweeney, Richard Donnelly, David Leonard, Joe Cannon , Hugh O’Donnell, Martin Lynch, Sean Roarty and Nicola Dunnion.
New members were warmly welcomed to the LGS - Ms Nicola Dunnion, Head of Department of Tourism and Culinary Arts at LYIT, Richard Donnelly of Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Sean Roarty of Teagasc and Joe Cannon, Chef and Owner of Ocras – a food business in Donegal.
At the outset Maura Toner, SinCE-AFC Project Executive gave a synopsis of the SinCE-AFC project and our work to date.
Maura also gave a summary of her work since the last LSG meeting in November which included an overview of the various online seminars and events she attended in the area of the Circular Economy. These included, among others:-
• the launch of CirculEire, Ireland’s first Circular Economy Innovation Network
• GRESS Interreg Europe Study Visit – the Green Economy Smart Specialisation
• EPA’s Green Enterprise event – which gave insights into business working in the CE.
• Low Carbon Business Action – an overview of how European Businesses are supporting businesses in the Americas to get involved in the CE
• The MODUS 4 week online event regarding the CE in Ireland
Maura gave examples of her research into GPs which included Green Generation in Kildare, Nutra Mara in Kerry. She requested the LSG to forward any information regarding Good Practices in the CE which she may not be aware of.
She also gave an update about the Facebook page which she created to promote the SinCE-AFC project in Ireland.
The members of the LSG who attended the Online Study event organised by ANATOLIKI SA and Regional Development Fund of Central Macedonia in November were thanked for their participation. Feedback was very positive.
The LSG were advised of the upcoming event being organised by Wiekopolska Region in Poznan, which given Covid19 restrictions will be most likely online. The Agenda and additional information will be circulated to the LSG when available.
A brief discussion took place about the Action Plan.
Michael gave an outline of the Circular Economy event, Harnessing Green, which we are planning as part of Enterprise Week on the 2nd of March next. This is will be an online event with contributors from around the island of Ireland who are expert in the area of sustainability, CE etc.
Our next LSG meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 4th of May 2021.
