ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE CROSSCARE REPORT ON THE FOOD
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE CROSSCARE REPORT ON THE FOOD BANK ON WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH 1998
Just yesterday, I had the pleasure of opening the conference on ‘Progress and Polarisation’ organised by the Conference of Religious of Ireland, which as the title suggests, dealt with the problems of social policy formulation and economic development to address the problem of polarisation in a changed Ireland. It seems almost coincidental that I should be here today to launch a report which is linked to that theme in that it analyses a service aimed at a sector which is ‘poles apart’ from the affluent Ireland that we hear so much of these days.
But there is another coincidence that should not go unnoticed – a common denominator, if you like, in the role of the religious in Ireland in addressing the social problems of individuals and whole communities – in providing services to the old, the sick, the hungry – in addressing the needs of people who have been marginalised, who have been left behind in the race for prosperity and all the affluence which has come with our new-found economic progress.
On Monday, I met with Goal who told me about their work and projects - particularly in the developing countries of Africa – and of the challenges which they face in delivering socially oriented schemes and humanitarian aid. Coincidentally, they too spoke about the very valuable role played by religious Missionaries in Africa – particularly by Irish Missionaries - and of their largely unsung contribution to the alleviation of hunger and deprivation and all the suffering and misery that goes with it.
While my primary role here today is to launch the report on the Food Bank - a report which takes a detailed look at the delivery of the most basic need for human survival, I see it also as an opportunity to give due recognition to the religious in Ireland who continue to work with commitment and dedication to address the social problems that we have today. In that respect, their role hasn’t changed since the days of Famine in Ireland and it is similar in many ways to the role that so many Irish religious are playing in the places of poverty and turmoil in the world today.
The report by Dr. Pauline Faughan looks at the Food Bank and at the delivery of a service through numerous outlets in Dublin. In Chapter One of the report, Pauline explores the phenomenon of “Scarcity in a World of Plenty”, and makes the sobering point that “It is difficult to visualise that in the prosperous Ireland of today . . . thousands of people in Dublin make the daily trek to centres to obtain meals . . .” She also refers to the relationship between the history of hunger and the history of plenty, and how efforts to alleviate hunger “constitute a major continuing strand of human history”.
I know that the report was sparked by the commemoration of the Great Famine, and the upsurge in interest in the whole area of hunger and food poverty. But it is timely at this juncture – when Ireland has ‘come of age’ to stand back and look at a service such as the Food Bank – to conduct a critique of its focus and operation – and to draw conclusions on what you find. Paulines report does that in a most comprehensive way, using clear and soundly based methodologies and consulting with everybody concerned in each link of the chain of delivery through the membership of the Dublin City Food Bank – the agencies through which the food is channelled to the needy. It is a fascinating study, addressing the impact and effectiveness of the service in meeting goals and objectives, and in highlighting the areas of concern to those who operate the distribution network. In any organisation - especially those dealing with crisis situations as part of their remit – the ability to constantly assess performance and delivery is essential. Yet because of its very nature – its network of delivery points – its dependency on voluntary contributions and voluntary help - it is not always possible to gather the feedback and critique which will enable an organisation such as the Food Bank to constantly study itself – to induce changes needed to rectify operating difficulties. This report addresses that gap and will, I am sure, prove to be an invaluable tool in the re-focusing the operation of the organisation to meet current and emerging needs.
I commend Dr. Faughan on her work in producing this very comprehensive and useful document. I would also like to reiterate my appreciation and affirmation for the excellent work of the Food Bank, of Crosscare and of the many workers and volunteers who make such an enormous contribution to the provision of services which are so essential for the many in our society who have been marginalised. It is their work which keeps us humble and reminds us as we justifiably celebrate our achievements as a nation, that there can be no rest until the economic success is felt by the entire Irish family. That we are capable of doing that, there can be no doubt. That we care enough to do it, there can be no doubt - when we look at the devotion and commitment of the people like those in the Food Bank and Crosscare – people willing to give that bit extra to make a truly caring nation out of a collection of individuals.