**Geoscience Ireland confirms Fraser Insititute and Invest Northern Ireland as speakers at “Ireland – Open for Business”**

The annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention and Trade Show is the largest international meeting of its type in the world, with attendance in recent years exceeding 25,000 delegates. PDAC has been an important platform for countries seeking to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in mineral exploration and mining.

The Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) will host its “IRELAND – OPEN FOR BUSINESS” presentation on Monday, March 6^th, 2017 (programme below).

The GSI is Ireland’s national geoscience organisation and provides 3 key services: Geoscience Data (Terrestrial & Marine), Knowledge Centre (Independent Advice & Statutory Roles) & Project Partner for Research. The GSI is a division of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) which is also home to the Exploration & Mining Division (EMD). The EMD is the regulator for minerals in Ireland and issues licences, monitors performance and promotes the exploration and development of economic mineral deposits in Ireland.

In bringing Irish geoscience expertise to international markets, Enterprise Ireland and GSI support Geoscience Ireland (GI), a business development initiative for 28 Irish companies winning business in overseas markets.

The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) provides geoscience information and services to inform decision making and is part of Northern Ireland’s Department for the Economy (DfE). GSNI is staffed by scientists of the British Geological Survey under contract to DfE to provide advice and support to the Minerals and Petroleum Branch (MAPB) which administers mineral exploration in Northern Ireland.

Ireland and Canada’s mining industries have strong links dating back to the opening over 50 years ago of the Tynagh Mine in Co Galway, a result of Irish entrepreneurship and Canadian venture capital. Since then, Ireland has become a significant producer of base metals, ranking third in Europe and fourteenth in the world for zinc.
“IRELAND – OPEN FOR BUSINESS”

Programme for Ireland Presentation

Location: Room 202 B; Monday, March 6, 2017, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Chair; Gerry Stanley, Head, Minerals Section, GSI

2:00 – 2:10 pm                   Introduction by Ireland’s Ambassador to Canada; H.E. Jim Kelly

2:10 – 2:25 pm                   “Ireland: A Prime Location for Mineral Exploration and Development”; Dr Eibhlin Doyle (Chief Geologist, EMD)

2:25 – 2:40 pm                   “Northern Ireland: Mining developments and exploration opportunities”; Dr Mark Cooper (Chief Geologist, GSNI)

2:40 – 2:50 pm                  “Ireland’s Ranking in the Fraser Institute Survey”; Kenneth P. Green (Fraser Institute)

2:50 – 3:00 pm                   “GSI Initiatives; TELLUS, R&D, Geoscience Ireland”; Koen Verbruggen (Director, GSI)

3:00 – 3:10 pm                   TELLUS Geochemistry; Dr Eric Grunsky (Dept of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo)

3.10 – 3.25 pm                     “Research innovation at the Irish Centre Research for Applied Geoscience” Prof John Walsh (University College Dublin; Director, iCRAG)

 

3:25 – 3:45 pm                   Coffee/Tea /Networking

 

3:45 – 5:00 pm                   Recent Developments and New Entrants

Gold; Dalradian, Galantas, Conroy, Bowpark

Base Metals; Boliden Tara Mines, Group 11, Unicorn, Adventus

Critical Metals; Blackstairs Lithium, MOAG

5:00 – 5:10 pm                   Invest Northern Ireland; Aine Mallaghan (VP Business Development (Chicago), INI)

5:10 – 5:20 pm                   Geoscience Export Services; Dermot Reidy (Senior Development Adviser, Enterprise Ireland)

5:20 – 6:00 pm                   Networking Reception

 

All are welcome; To register, email: andrew.gaynor@gsi.ie