SENATOR Joe McHugh has hailed last weekend's workshop on Marine and Farming "as a positive step forward in developing policy which best fits the needs of the county."

Mairead McGuinness, MEP, who contributed to the workshop, listened to the barriers and opportunities in marine and farming. Representatives from the said industries, political, community sector and academia came together and offered a unique insight into the challenges that lie ahead.

One common denominator that emerged was that both sectors were faced with increased layers of bureaucracy which is stifling progress. Added to this negative factor are the methods used to implement rules and regulations. There was a call that there should be a better working relationship between the regulators and the people working in the industry.

Presentations were delivered in the fields of aquaculture, crabbing, bio-fuels, agri-tourism and agri-food. Two separate workshops identified a road map in regional policy for both marine and agri-food. Senator McHugh, who chaired the workshop, indicated "that there is a growing level of frustration with national policy that is out of synch with the needs of local economies."

"The only way forward for a more concerted policy mechanism for the county is by engaging locally with the main players in industry, academia, political and community/state agency. The top down approach has failed Co. Donegal and the time is right for policy to be generated locally and create a bottom-up culture in developing policy for the North West," he said.

Joanne Sweeney from the Letterkenny Chamber made a presentation on positive branding for the region. Ms. Sweeney made a call for more co-ordination in relation to branding different parts of the county on the back of the quality products that are produced locally.

Senator McHugh was "delighted with the cross-representation who attended the workshop" and concluded by saying that "a lot of work is already happening in relation to creating a more locally based policy plan. However, with such a central Government system, it will take a lot of hard work to devolve power from Dublin that best fits the policy needs of the county." Senator McHugh added he "was delighted to have Mairead McGuinness, MEP, in attendance as she offered direction in relation to EU policy in the years ahead."

Senator McHugh concluded by saying that he "would like to thank the people who attended the workshop and committed to bringing the opinions and points of view to Deputy Denis Naughten, Spokesperson on Agriculture, and Deputy John Perry, Spokesperson on Marine, for consideration in Fine Gael's programme for government."