The Irish Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen T.D. visited Celtic Renewables as part of a four-day official visit to Scotland for the Irish Government’s St. Patrick’s Day “Promote Ireland” programme. The Minister met with Professor Martin Tangney OBE and the team to learn firsthand about their pioneering work in producing advanced sustainable biofuel from the residues of the whisky industry.
Ireland’s booming whisk(e)y industry is now one of the fastest growing spirits sectors in the world, and the Minister was keen to learn how the technology could be exported to Ireland. Professor Tangney, who was awarded an Honorary OBE in the New Years list, is originally from County Cork and has strong links with the Irish industry and the Irish Government.
Professor Tangney commented; “links between Ireland and Scotland have always been strong, but in the current political climate they are more important than ever. A high profile visit such as this by Minister Breen shows the reputation that we have earned in Ireland and highlights the tremendous potential for Celtic Renewables to deploy our technology in Ireland.”
During his visit to Scotland, Minister Breen also met with senior Scottish Government Cabinet Secretaries and was the guest of honour at the St. Patrick’s Day Charity Ball. The programme for the Minister’s visit was developed by the Consulate General of Ireland in Edinburgh in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland. The Consul General of Ireland to Scotland, Dr Mark Hannify, accompanied Minister Breen on the visit to Company base in Edinburgh.
Speaking on the visit Dr Hanniffy said; “”Our visit to Celtic Renewables and Edinburgh Napier University was a valuable opportunity to hear about the work of a really innovative company driving the development of cutting edge technology in the renewable energy sector. Much credit is due to Professor Martin Tangney, a leading Irish scientist based here in Scotland, for pioneering the use of this new method for the production of biofuels.”
L-R, Prof Martin Tangney OBE and Minister Pat Breen TD.