REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT AN ENTERPRISE IRELAND BUSINESS RECEPTION LE ROYAL HOTEL, LUXEMBOURG
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT AN ENTERPRISE IRELAND BUSINESS RECEPTION LE ROYAL HOTEL, LUXEMBOURG THURSDAY, 15 OCTOBER, 2009
Dia dhíbh a chairde. I am delighted to be here this evening and have the opportunity to meet so many leading Irish companies and their partners in Luxembourg and other important members of the business community. The event, which has been organised by Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Government’s trade and technology development agency, is an excellent opportunity to meet and network and celebrate the wonderful spirit of partnership between Luxembourg and Ireland.
May I start by thanking you all for your interest in Ireland – your willingness to join us here this evening to celebrate the links that exist between our two countries is a clear demonstration of the energy and dynamism that exists in your businesses and your desire to further deepen those links. I would also like to extend a warm word of thanks to James Mackrill and his team at Enterprise Ireland, our hosts this evening.
Enterprise Ireland works around the globe to help Irish companies develop their competitiveness and identify new opportunities overseas. It works with companies of all sizes with particular emphasis on bringing forward innovation into the market place. Part of the process is to know the market and this starts with listening and understanding, then responding appropriately to the needs of that market.
To achieve this in a fully credible manner it is essential to establish good quality relationships with those ‘at the coalface’, people like you, the business and technical experts, in different parts of the world. To that end, a key objective of this evening’s event is to bring together people and businesses from Ireland with their counterparts here in Luxembourg to initiate links where common ground may exist for mutual benefit.
Many of you here this evening are drawn from the financial services sector and I know that you are currently facing massive change that is still far from complete. The need to be well connected with emerging technologies that drive efficiency and effectiveness is more important than ever in this new and uncertain period in which we find ourselves. Change also presents opportunity and this evening we hope that new connections will be made offering the chance for new opportunities to establish new relationships.
Ireland and Luxembourg are similar in many ways. Both are small countries which punch well above their weight within the EU and the wider world and enjoy strong and positive reputations far beyond their borders. The links uniting us are strong as well. There are a surprisingly large number of my fellow countrymen and women living here in Luxembourg and, having spent the last two days here, I can plainly see what attracts them. It is not only a testament to the outward looking, entrepreneurial nature of the Irish character but also to the warm welcome and easy fit that they have found here in Luxembourg.
Here in the first home of the institutions of Europe, it is only natural that talk of business links will quickly turn to talk of our recent referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. The emphatic nature of the Irish people’s decision – a two to one majority – underlines their firm commitment to the European Union. The fact that Irish voters came out in such large numbers and returned such a positive verdict on the Treaty and on the Union is a reflection of the importance the Irish people attach to Europe.
I know that many of you have also watched with interest the extraordinary progress in the Northern Ireland peace process over the past few years. The restoration of the Assembly and the Executive have marked a significant step towards a lasting peace on this island, and represented a watershed in a process that has been ongoing now for many years. Since then, we have seen an unprecedented level of cooperation at the political level in Northern Ireland. It is also the case that cross-border relations are better than ever. Ministers meet regularly to discuss issues affecting Ireland North and South and our North/South Ministerial Council oversees cross-border cooperation in areas like transport and health, agriculture and education. Increasingly, we are planning and investing together, laying the foundations for a return to sustainable and enduring growth throughout the island. The Government is contributing funding to upgrade key roads in Northern Ireland, to promote cross-border research and development and to build more effective links between higher education institutions North and South. There is a growing recognition that in planning for the years to come – and in tackling global challenges like climate change and energy security – we are stronger when we share approaches and weaker when we work alone.
At a business level, there is great potential for collaboration between Ireland and Luxembourg in many sectors and the financial and telecoms sectors are the obvious candidates. In an environment where these two sectors are global, the concept of international partnering and joint business development in such fast evolving markets makes clear sense. The success of small countries is based on their capacity to innovate and to develop sustainable competitive advantage but most importantly it is the ability to create connections, relationships and mutually beneficial associations overseas to increase business in new markets beyond their shores. This has created an annual merchandise trade value of €191m between our two countries in 2008 under 49 different goods categories, demonstrating the vibrant inter-trade that exists between us.
Both Luxembourg and Ireland have been successful in different ways and looking to the future, there is always more to be done and we need to run ever faster to stay ahead. We both know that a nation’s size is not the determinant of commercial success. Rather, it is our abilities to be creative in the development of products and services; our nimbleness in responding to change; our ability to ‘get out there’ and create and sustain new connections; to embrace more distant markets and our willingness to explore new opportunities with an open mind and a collaborative approach.
You are key influencers and decision makers who help to shape future business relationships and opportunities between your own organisations and many of Ireland’s leading companies. Ladies and gentlemen, in true Irish tradition, I hope the relaxed and friendly atmosphere for which we are renowned will lead to discussions which will help identify new opportunities so that you and the companies you represent will forge even stronger links in the coming years.
I hope you will enjoy the evening, go raibh míle maith agaibh.