Remarks at the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards
11th November 2013
A Dhaoine Uaisle,
I am very pleased to be with you this evening for the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards for 2013. I would like to thank Sean Coughlan for his kind invitation to join you, and all of you for that generous welcome.
This evening, we are reminded of how the worlds of innovative entrepreneurship and social justice can intersect and of how fortunate we are that within our society, we have so many talented citizens who have vision and empathy and who are also willing and anxious to identify social problems, and tackle them in an inventive way, citizens who have the drive and innovation to create solutions to those problems.
Cuirtear i gcuimhne dúinn freisin na féidearthachtaí as cuimse a bhíonn ann tráth a mbíonn an misneach agus an tsamhlaíocht acu san a bhfuil tallann agus scileanna acu i saol na fiontraíochta chun leasanna sóisialta agus timpeallachta a chur ar bharr a gclár oibre.
[We are also reminded of the endless possibilities that are there when those who have talent and skills in the world enterprise have the courage and the imagination to place social and environmental benefits at the very top of their agenda. ]
Social entrepreneurship is offered as practical and engaged citizenship; its practitioners allow us to envision an alternate version of an economic order; one that is not abstract, or established solely on the demands of the economic at the expense of all else, or where only economic short term benefits must be maintained even if at the expense of community and society and, indeed, family life.
Social entrepreneurs define, in many ways, what it is to be an active citizen how to play a creative part in society, and to recognize the opportunities we can create within our communities and our society through the delivery of our unique skills and talents. It involves an acceptance of the implications of a life beyond the self – of all the obligations and duties that go hand in hand with a set of defined rights within a truly democratic society.
If we look back over our history we see the many charitable institutions which have worked, and continue to work and lobby for the creation in Ireland as a Republic which values solidarity, inclusion and the achievement of universal provision as the purpose of its economic policies. As to work outside shores, we see the work of Irish missionaries and lay people who have worked tirelessly for the dispossessed and underprivileged. We recognize in the many branches of the Credit Union movement, which have recently celebrated fifty years of granting access to financial services to people who were previously denied such opportunities, a great commitment to solidarity.
These, and so many other groups, movements and institutions remind us of how social entrepreneurship – although called by many other names throughout our history– has always been at the heart and foundation of the best instincts of communities across this country.
Anseo, anocht, táimid as cheiliuradh glún nua smaointeoirí agus fadhbréiteoirí; fiontraithe a leanann den mhéid is féidir leis an bhfiontraíocht a dhéanamh ar mhaithe leis an tsochaí i gcoitinne a aithint, agus a thuigeann an ceangal láidir is feidir a shaothrú idir an fhiontraíocht agus an tsochaí agus an chaoi ar féidir an ceangal sin gealladh iomlán na sochaí a fhuascailt chun athruithe sóisialta a thabhairt i gcrích.
[Here, tonight, we celebrate a new generation of thinkers and problem solvers; entrepreneurs who continue to recognise the real contribution that enterprise can make to wider society and who understand the powerful bridge that can be built between entrepreneurship and society and how that bridge can unlock society’s full potential in order to effect social change.]
The range of endeavours shortlisted for this evening’s award is impressive. They individually and collectively indicate an empathy, generosity of spirit and commitment to society that has driven each one in a manner that is inspiring. Many of the nominees have been motivated, from their own experiences, to investigate how services or access to information within our society can be advanced, developed and delivered to best meet the needs of those who are vulnerable or going through a difficult time. Some of you have focussed on the empowerment of individuals, some of you on the utilizing of technology for the greater good, and others amongst you on the revitalization of communities and the overcoming of obstacles to their flourishing in creative and innovative ways.
All of the nominations underline how dynamic change can be brought about by individuals who are prepared to think differently in a manner that is emancipator; and the benefits that flow to those who pursue their vision with self-belief and determination. All of the submissions being honoured here today demonstrate the capacity to imagine, break away into new thinking and realise a better world; reminding us of the inspiring phrase by Raymond Williams:
‘Once the inevitabilities are challenged, we have begun to gather our resources for a journey of hope’
Social innovation has been given a strong focus in Ireland, with the establishment of organisations such as Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, and the introduction of the Social Entrepreneur awards. Ireland shares this growing emphasis on social innovation with many other countries around the world. As the world becomes “virtually” smaller through technological advancement and the proliferation of scientific knowledge, we have the capacity to understand more fully the problems we have in common with many other countries. We have come to realise that issues like economic development and climate change are inter-related and that human activity can – and has – changed the global climate.
We have grown to understand better the needs of different groups in our society and the importance of education, social inclusion and measures that promote and enhance equality.
Over the last seven years, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland has supported 161 social entrepreneurs, investing €4.9 million in their projects, and providing significant additional supports. These projects have directly impacted over 200,000 people across Ireland and created over 800 employment opportunities in the process. In addition, a recent Forfas report indicates that the social enterprise sector employs more than 25,000 people in over 1,400 social enterprises in Ireland, with a combined total income of around €1.4 billion. These are impressive figures and ones which remind us of the enormous contribution which Social Entrepreneurs make to the development of an economy and a society which is fair, equitable and places the needs of our citizens at its very centre.
Finally I would like to congratulate all of our awardees here today and wish them every success in the future; a future where they can offer so much as we work to achieve truly democratic citizenships operating within just economies and with active participants in civil societies.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir