ADAM WELCOMES POSSIBLE JOINT TOURISM INITIATIVE WITH IRELAND

Brian Adam MSP for Aberdeen North, during a British Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body meeting in Wexford earlier this week met with Tourism Ireland chiefs to discuss possibilities for co-operation between the two nations. Tourism Ireland is one of the new cross border bodies set up as a result of the changes in the Irish political climate with work carried out both in Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Commenting on these talks, Mr. Adam said:

"I met with Mr. Paul O'Toole, one of the chiefs in Tourism Ireland to discuss whether the family history tourism market was one they were looking to cultivate in Ireland. In any of the European nations, there is always a clear and easy route to showcase a military history, certainly for a nation like Ireland, but often visitors from other parts of the world are keen to also learn about where they come from."

"In later discussions with Mr. O'Toole we explored co-operation between Scotland and Ireland on family history tourism and agreed it would be to mutual advantage. Many families in Northern Ireland are of Scots descent, and in nations such as the USA, Canada or Australia where we have a real melting pot of Anglophone nations often with a high proportion of Scots and Irish ancestry, it is clear that many families there will now have roots in both nations."

"I think that future joint ventures on this initiative could be very beneficial to those tourists coming to visit, and to both nation's Tourism industries. I look forward to further developments, and will be following up on this with parties on both sides."




ENDS

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ADAM ON SHELL JOB LOSSES

SNP MSP for Aberdeen North Brian Adam today called on Shell to ensure there are no compulsory redundancies as he expressed his disappointment at their decision to cut 180 staff at their Aberdeen base.

Mr Adam said;

"At a time when the price of oil is going through the roof and the profits of oil companies are continuing to rise this is very disappointing news.

"Aberdeen has a long relationship with Shell and I will be asking for reassurances that there will be no compulsory redundancies as part of these cuts.

"This decision raises concerns over Shell's continued commitment to the North East with these job losses coming on the back of their decision to pull out of a proposed expansion at the Altens site in the city.

"I will be contacting the Enterprise Minister Jim Mather to see what assistance the Government and Scottish Enterprise will make available to those at risk of unemployment."

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"For latest news and information about all aspects of Parliamentary business, MSPs and our work, visit the Parliament's website at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/.

For information about how you can visit the Parliament, go to http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/visitingHolyrood/index.htm.

Watch Parliamentary business live at http://www.holyrood.tv/

The information in this e-mail transmission and any files or attachments transmitted with it are strictly confidential and may contain privileged information. It is intended solely for the person or organisation to whom it is addressed and if you are not the intended recipient, you must not copy, distribute, disclose or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this e-mail in error, please delete it from your computer system and notify the sender as soon as possible.

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ADAM WELCOMES INDEPENDENT INQUIRY ON HEPATITIS C

Brian Adam MSP for Aberdeen North today welcomed a big result in the Hepatitis C Campaign after years of lobbying. Mr. Adam is notably one of, if not the first member of the Scottish Parliament to have brought this issue to light in Holyrood. The Cabinet Secretary for Health - Nicola Sturgeon MSP announced a independent inquiry to be led by the Right Honourable Lady Cosgrove into incidents of blood contamination with  Hepatitis C.

Commenting, Mr. Adam said:

"Hundreds of haemophiliacs, and other patients requiring blood transfusions were infected with the blood borne Hepatitis C virus 30 years ago. These answers are long over due and I look forward to the outcome of this inquiry."

"I first lodged a parliamentary motion calling for a public inquiry into how these patients contracted Hepatitis C almost 9 years ago. It has taken two terms of parliament and finally a change of administration to see it happen."

"I am delighted for the families of those involved who have campaigned many more years than I, and hope they will now perhaps be able to move on after the inquiry has concluded and the truth has been revealed."

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"For latest news and information about all aspects of Parliamentary business, MSPs and our work, visit the Parliament's website at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/.

For information about how you can visit the Parliament, go to http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/visitingHolyrood/index.htm.

Watch Parliamentary business live at http://www.holyrood.tv/

The information in this e-mail transmission and any files or attachments transmitted with it are strictly confidential and may contain privileged information. It is intended solely for the person or organisation to whom it is addressed and if you are not the intended recipient, you must not copy, distribute, disclose or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this e-mail in error, please delete it from your computer system and notify the sender as soon as possible.

While this e-mail message and attachments have been swept by the content filter software for the presence of computer viruses, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body does not guarantee that either are virus-free and accepts no liability for damage sustained as a result of a virus. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure that the onward transmission, opening or use of this message and any attachments will not adversely affect their systems or data or otherwise incur liability in law."

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ADAM WELCOMES PUBLIC HEALTH MINISTER MEETING

Brian Adam MSP for Aberdeen North today welcomed Shona Robison MSP's announcement that she would be taking personal interest in the provision of alternative and augmentative communication aids. The Minister for Public Health yesterday stated that she would be meeting with the alternative and augmentative communication services campaign group on 12 May to discuss its concerns, including those raised by Mr. Adam in the debating chamber, and to examine what steps can be taken to improve the services.

Commenting, the SNP MSP said :
"I think this is a break through in the campaign to see a fairer stance taken on the provision of new, innovative communication aids."

"It is disturbing to see that 8 out of 15 NHS Boards across Scotland, including NHS Grampian were reported to offer poor services in a survey by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, Capability Scotland and Augmentative Communication and that only 16% of potential beneficiaries are accessing specialist AAC services in Scotland."

"I look forward to the outcome of the meeting with the Minister for Public Health, and hope to see improvements in the services currently on offer in the area."

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"For latest news and information about all aspects of Parliamentary business, MSPs and our work, visit the Parliament's website at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/.

For information about how you can visit the Parliament, go to http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/visitingHolyrood/index.htm.

Watch Parliamentary business live at http://www.holyrood.tv/

The information in this e-mail transmission and any files or attachments transmitted with it are strictly confidential and may contain privileged information. It is intended solely for the person or organisation to whom it is addressed and if you are not the intended recipient, you must not copy, distribute, disclose or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this e-mail in error, please delete it from your computer system and notify the sender as soon as possible.

While this e-mail message and attachments have been swept by the content filter software for the presence of computer viruses, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body does not guarantee that either are virus-free and accepts no liability for damage sustained as a result of a virus. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure that the onward transmission, opening or use of this message and any attachments will not adversely affect their systems or data or otherwise incur liability in law."

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ADAM CONGRATULATES SCOTLAND THE WHAT

"Scotland the What" stars - George Donald, Steven Robertson and Buff Hardie last week received the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen, and this week received national acclaim in the Scottish Parliament. Aberdeen North MSP - Brian Adam today lodged a motion in the Parliament to congratulate the comedy trio on the work they have done in promoting the area.

Commenting, Mr. Adam said:

"This comedy group is loved not only all across Scotland, but across the world. The work they have done in promoting our nation, and indeed that all our home-grown performers do is priceless for our tourism industry, and also the global image of our country."

"I wanted to make sure that they were also recognised for promoting Doric, our local dialect, which is obviously something we don't see commonly in show biz."

"I wish them all the best for the future, and hope that their legacy continues to influence Scotland's entertainment industry."

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"For latest news and information about all aspects of Parliamentary business, MSPs and our work, visit the Parliament's website at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/.

For information about how you can visit the Parliament, go to http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/visitingHolyrood/index.htm.

Watch Parliamentary business live at http://www.holyrood.tv/

The information in this e-mail transmission and any files or attachments transmitted with it are strictly confidential and may contain privileged information. It is intended solely for the person or organisation to whom it is addressed and if you are not the intended recipient, you must not copy, distribute, disclose or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this e-mail in error, please delete it from your computer system and notify the sender as soon as possible.

While this e-mail message and attachments have been swept by the content filter software for the presence of computer viruses, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body does not guarantee that either are virus-free and accepts no liability for damage sustained as a result of a virus. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure that the onward transmission, opening or use of this message and any attachments will not adversely affect their systems or data or otherwise incur liability in law."

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