Irish aid agencies are already heavily involved in the rescue efforts and additional volunteers are being recruited with ease. A huge national fund-raising exercise, aimed at helping the refugees, is currently under way. The long-awaited Sinn Fein response to last December's Joint Declaration finally came yesterday evening. The party held a special conference in Letterkenny but the media was excluded from most of the proceedings. The final response was seen by observers as a rejection of the Joint Declaration although it is said that members of Sinn Fein are surprised that such a negative view should be taken over what transpired at the conference.
Industrial relations continue to make news.
For a time it looked as if Irish Steel was going to be saved. There is also good and bad news from TEAM Aer Lingus. Talks are taking place between management and unions but progress is said to be painfully slow. Protest marches and unofficial industrial action have delayed flights from Dublin Airport. On a more encouraging note the weather has been excellent and everybody is making the most of it.