The Scottish Islands Federation  Conference 2007

“A Voice For The Islands”

Day 2

Back to day 1

The second day of the event was held at Craignure Hall, a short distance away from the Isle of Mull Hotel.  The reason for this, was that other local delegates from Mull were invited to add input from specific areas and also to involve the local groups and islanders. 

SIF Chair  – Summary of Day One / Setting the Scene 

Ian drew together the outcomes of the previous day, and set the scene for our guest speakers.

9.30  Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy & Tourism.

Jim Mather is the local MSP as well as being the minister for three important departments.  One of his main processes of government, is drawing together ideas derived from local communities.  Two island communities, including Mull, have attended two sessions led by the minister and he was keen to draw our attentions to this process.  This process Jim uses is called 'Mind Mapping'.  Basically using software to draw together processes and strategies.  The technique is well known and respected and something we may wish to engage with.   The minister also outlined opportunities in tourism and energy that we may wish to take advantage of.  Jim is a very clear and straightforward speaker  and has a good grasp of island life.  Jim's father worked on Mull for many years.  In the Q&A session, it was refreshing to hear a politician answer the questions 'head on'.  The only subject that the Conference would have liked to hear discussed, but wasn't, was a Minister for the Islands, or, a minister with islands within their port folio.  This subject will arise again.

10.00 Willy Roe, Chairman, Highlands & Islands Enterprise  (Arc of Opportunity )

Click here for his presentation

Mr Roe outlined statistics about the islands and his vision for the future.  In doing so he gave examples of 'good practice' and opportunities taken up by islands.  His presentation shows the basic strands of his aims and objectives for the future.  For me as an islander it was a comprehensive, very down to earth view of our potential, and the way to achieve it.  As a SIF Committee member, it gave me full confidence that we are all going to be pulling together in the direction in all areas.  I look forward to Mr Roe and his colleagues guidance in the future.

10.30 Cllr  Len Scoullar  - Argyll & Bute Council Islands Spokesperson 

The full transcript can be viewed by clicking here   Thanks to Len for help setting up the Conference and the support given from Argyll and Bute

10.45 Cllr Angus Campbell – Vice Convenor, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 
Click here for a transcript with slides

I think that this was a particularly significant speech for those of us who don't live within a strictly island council.  It is quite hard for us to understand why an island council has a certain reluctance to join in on what it sees as just another organisation.  Councillor Campbell's speech and presentation gave us an insight into that mindset.  I have looked through the presentation a couple of times now just to reinforce that understanding.  For anyone from a council like Highland, Argyll &Bute or North Ayrshire, this is essential reading.

11.00  onwards was re arranged slightly as we didn't manage to get a councillor from the Northern Isles to attend, even though we got some valuable delegates.  Again, the situation from Angus Campbell's speech may well have something to do with the Northern Isle Councils not being more actively involved.

Jane Fowler followed this by introducing us to her role within a Council, and also about EU structure of parliament.  This was probably required, as few of us really understand how all of the EU works, and, more importantly, how we can effect change.

Click here for her presentation

Alan Reid MP (Argyll & Bute)  - Shadow Northern Ireland and Scotland Minister, gave a short speech, very supportive of the new Federation and its role for representing the islands people as a unit.  He also gave his views about how the Federation could feed back into the UK as a whole.

Elspeth Attwooll MEP (Scotland) Vice President of EC Fisheries Committee      This speech was of particular interest to all groups interested in the marine environment.  Elspeth pointed out that significant discussions were taking place within the European Parliament to develop a Marine 'Blue' paper.  This may well turn into a legal framework for the whole of the EEC.  At this stage we are encouraged to take part in the debate, and Elspeth has taken upon herself to keep us informed.  This sort of development is across all islands,  and, one area that may well go beneath the Councils 'radar'.  I have therefore, placed this as an issue to be watched.

Anne Laperrouze MEP (Fr) Committee for Agriculture, Rural Development and, Energy.  Once again this was a significant European parliamentarian informing us about the ways that the parliament is operating and her place within it.  Anne is a full voting member of the Energy Committee and has made some very influential speeches on the environment and EU policy.  Anne spent some time after the conference bringing some of us up to date on developments and how we could become involved.  Anne has visited the Scottish Islands many times before and loves the area.   If we need help or guidence, or, if we wish her to take part in debates where she is only a 'substitute' voting member, then she will.

The final speaker in this session was Jamie McGrigor, Highlands and Islands MSP for the Conservative and Unionist Party.  Jamie gave a historic view of his involvement with the islands and his work as a shadow minister for fisheries.  The marine environment and culture were his main discussion points.

We then broke for a break,

Ian Gillies then brought the members of the panel back for 'questions and answers' after a summary of events.

The afternoon session was an opportunity for delegates to ask questions to the full panel, including Jim Mather, who returned after opening the Tobermory Water treatment plant.  Discussions were frank and covered a wide range of subjects from land issues and aquaculture, to biomass.  Many of the subjects covered will now be entered into our 'issues section'

This is the conclusion of my own report, and the official one should be published in time to come.

Coverage in the newspapers was way beyond what we expected, and, apart from one rather premature article very complementary.

Here are links to the articles and blogs:  We must answer some of the more critical elements of the blogs where islanders didn't feel that they were well enough informed, and about their possible future involvement.

 
http://www.scottish-islands-federation.co.uk/conference-2007.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/17/nisles117.xml
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1837651.0.0.php
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1811182007
http://www.arranbanner.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/748/Islands_can_stand_united.html
http://www.meltontimes.co.uk/latest-scottish-news/Islands-Minister-urged-by-new.3494971.jp
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/islandblogging/blogs/005132/0000009515.shtml
http://www.localpeopleleading.co.uk/showart.php?articleid=6716&typeid=1
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1794542007
http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1816472007
http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/latest-scottish-news/Islands-Minister-urged-by-new.3494971.jp
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/editorial/display.var.1837593.0.0.php
http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1811182007