ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS DINNER
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS DINNER, HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE MONDAY 6 APRIL, 1998
I always feel that the problem with being the after-dinner speaker is the expectation of entertainment and colour. While I can’t guarantee to bring the house down – I will try to be brief and succinct! And I also know that Monday night is not the ideal night for carousing, especially for hardworking and dedicated people like the esteemed members of the Institute. Of course, dining with the Institute of Directors is always a joy - and particularly so in the pleasant ambiance of Hillsborough Castle. So I am very grateful to our host – Alan McClure – for inviting me to join you this evening and for giving me this brief opportunity to speak.
Indeed, I know that my visit to Hillsborough comes at a particularly difficult and delicate time in the unfolding political developments that are just now coming to a head. I know too that the politicians, officials and advisers are working under great strains and pressures - they have to walk a delicate line – a lonely road. It is a stressful time for everybody involved. But I know that I speak for everyone here this evening in wishing them well in their important work – and in praying that they can see their way to a resolution to the difficulties and differences that have plagued this island for so long – that have brought so much hurt – so much misery and suffering - to many individuals, families and communities.
Leaving the work of politics to the politicians, in the world of business – as professional people, you know well that ‘overnight success’ doesn’t actually happen overnight. You know that success is a combination of hard work – stamina – statesmanship – long nights of anxiety – and risks. You know that it is a combination of small successes, setbacks, advances and self-belief that brings about success. Taking risks is often what your business is all about. You know how difficult it can be to make a break – to take a gamble on a particular strategy – to work and re-work a project - to have to constantly keep your fingers crossed and pray that things will work out they way you want. You know too of the loneliness that comes with that responsibility – of the knowledge that ‘the buck’ stops with you – that you will have to face the consequences of failure. In that sense you have something in common with those who are working in the political process – you know something of the anguish and anxiety that they are living with.
But the Institute of Directors is a partnership of talents - talents which are focused in one direction – talents which when pooled can achieve great things. You know what can be accomplished when talents are brought together and shared. Pooling talents and information in a partnership with a common goal is what you are about. Last year, I heard of the discovery of the gene responsible for a mental defect in children. The researcher who made the discovery told of how a number of laboratories had been researching the problem for years – but each had been jealously guarding their own small discoveries and pieces of information from the other. Yet none of them had sufficient information to ‘crack the nut’. But when they finally decided to pool their information – the solution rapidly became obvious. A major milestone in medical research had been reached.
To me, that story illustrates the enormous value of pooling resources and talent – the wisdom of sharing information and skills to make real progress. Partnerships which embrace all available talents can reach new heights of achievement. To ignore or exclude talent or resources – to keep them locked away and under-utilised – is really like flying on one wing – a lot of energy expended on going only half-way! – and not necessarily in the right direction.
We all know that education is the key to unlocking the talent I speak of. Quite a number of companies have recognised this and have fostered active links with universities in their areas of operation. This process has benefited all concerned and the research work of universities has been given a practical outlet. But more remains to be done. In the closing years of a century that has seen such profound changes and advances in society – higher education - itself a magnificent component of our success - is still predominantly a middle class privilege. Shouldn’t we be looking at ways to harness that huge untapped base of talent – to empower and draw in those whom, through economic circumstance – or complex processes of social alienation - feel and are indeed excluded. Business sponsorship has gone a long way in opening the doors of education – in tapping into and using that great wealth of resources and talents of our people. I commend those who have seen the value in harnessing those resources. Partnership between business and universities is mutually beneficial and is, I believe, the way forward.
All over Ireland, the lessons of partnership are being learnt in their broadest sense. Community after community is discovering the self-confidence that comes from drawing together State agencies, European agencies, the voluntary sector, and local skills – and putting them at the service of community ambition. The success of the partnership approach can be seen in the many projects which are transforming the landscape of communities across the country. As we face the changes that the future holds in prospect, we hope a new era of partnership may soon dawn – when every ounce of energy skill and wisdom will be focused on building up a decent, sustainable future for all the children of this island.
As we look to the new millennium – with its many blank pages of history yet to be lived and written – it is worth contemplating deeply the changes that will come about, and the opportunities that will present themselves – if we have the courage of heart, the generosity of spirit and the trust in ourselves – to take ownership of the future and to make it truly ours. The Institute of Directors has met many challenges in the past – has written its own distinctive script. I have no doubt that you will be important catalysts in the changing world – and will rise to the challenges that the coming months and years will bring. I wish you all well for the road ahead.
Thank you.