Thousands supporting the Exploris campaign

Thousands supporting the Exploris campaign

6 November 2013

THE battle to secure regional funding for the Exploris aquarium in Portaferry took centre stage at Stormont yesterday.

A petition organised by the Friends of Exploris campaign group to keep the doors of the aquarium open was presented to Assembly Speaker Assembly Willie Hay by Strangford MLA Kieran McCarthy yesterday morning.

In late afternoon, MLAs were due to debate a motion from the Alliance Party calling for a plan to be devised to provide investment and support for Exploris and an Ulster Unionist amendment for regional funding to be made available for the Portaferry aquarium.

Also yesterday afternoon public service union NIPSA staged a demonstration and rally in support of the aquarium and seal sanctuary outside Parliament Buildings.

Ards Council wants to close Exploris amid mounting concern about its annual running costs, which the local authority claims is in the region of £600,000. But a major campaign has been mounted to secure regional status for the aquarium which would pave the way for government funding.

Ahead of yesterday’s Stormont debate, NIPSA official, Antoinette McMillen, said the trade union believes that the only long-term, sustainable solution for Exploris and the seal sanctuary is regional funding.

“A number of government departments working together to provide regional funding could secure this invaluable public service for the people of Northern Ireland,” she declared.

“Exploris provides a unique opportunity for the public, students, schools, tourists and conservationists to witness life under our shores.”

The NIPSA official said securing regional funding would deliver on the programme for government, the tourism strategy and the Northern Ireland curriculum.

“To have such a facility close or have the uncertainty of dependence of finance on a year-to-year basis would be a travesty,” continued Antoinette.

The trade union official also welcomed the Ulster Unionist Party amendment to the Alliance motion calling on relevant government departments to provide regional funding, resource and support required by Ards Borough Council to maximise the benefit of Exploris to the economy of the Ards Peninsula and Northern Ireland.

Antoinette added: “NIPSA welcomes the UUP amendment and hopes other political parties will support it. Regional funding will secure jobs, protect the economy

of the Ards Peninsula and ensure that future generations will have an aquarium in Northern Ireland.”

Mr. McCarthy said Alliance has made it clear that it will continue the fight to save Exploris, which he described as a “valuable asset” not only to the local area, but Northern Ireland as a whole.

He continued: “Alliance is working at national and local levels to ensure urgent provision is made by the relevant bodies to save Exploris. Failure to do so will have a detrimental effect on Northern Ireland. If Executive officials worked with Ards Borough Council then we could put together a proper plan to save Exploris.

“I have already received correspondence from the Enterprise Minister and the First and Deputy First Ministers which spoke of possible support from officials for any plan.”

Mr. McCarthy revealed Alliance has tabled a motion at a forthcoming meeting of Ards Council calling on the local authority to rescind its earlier decision to close Exploris. He said as yet, not all UUP councillors have agreed to support it, despite the party’s Assembly group indicating its support for the campaign to save Exploris by submitting an amendment to his Assembly motion.