REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A LUNCH HOSTED BY GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A LUNCH HOSTED BY GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS AND THE CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SACREMENTO
A Ghobharnóir Dáibhis, a Bhean Dáibhis agus a chairde,
Is cúis áthais agus onóra domhsa, mar Uachtarán na hÉireann, go bhfuil mé anseo libh inniu ag déanamh ceiliúrtha ar an sean-dlúth-cheangal idir tír na hÉireann agus California. Ba mahith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl don Ghobharnóir Dáibhis agus do Bhean Dáibhis as an fháilte chaoin a chuir siad romham. Ba mhaith liom fosta, mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le Cumann Lucht Tráchtala California as an lón seo. Croí na Féile sibh.
Governor and Mrs Davis, distinguished guests,
It is indeed an honour, as President of Ireland, to be with you here today in Sacramento, celebrating the strong and enduring ties between Ireland and California. I’d like to thank Governor Davis and Mrs Davis for their kind welcome, and to thank the California Chamber of Commerce for hosting this lunch today.
The history of Irish immigration to California is an integral part of the history of the global Irish family, just as it is an integral part of the history of California itself. It is the story of my own family for it was to California that my father's brother and cousins came. The stories of successive generations of Irish immigrants, who came to California seeking opportunity and a future for themselves and their families, are part of the great ethnic and cultural tapestry that is California. California’s ability to absorb and unite these ethnic and cultural strands, drawing on what is best in these cultures and traditions, has given rise to what people around the world see as the idea of California - a place of opportunity, of tolerance and acceptance, where creativity is encouraged and enterprise rewarded.
From the very beginning the Irish who arrived in California prospered and succeeded in all walks of life. In politics, in the professions, in the law and law enforcement, in business, the Irish found California to be truly a land of opportunity. The success of the Irish in California, as in many other places where the global Irish family have made their way, has had a profoundly beneficial effect on the Irish at home and has contributed greatly to the new confidence and dynamism that are defining characteristics of the new Ireland as we cross the threshold into the next millennium.
The Ireland of today looks forward to the future with confidence and excitement. We have experienced a true renaissance over the last decade, economically, culturally and politically. Ireland’s economic transformation has to a large extent been based on high technology. Ireland’s young well-educated workforce has attracted high technology investment into Ireland - over 500 US companies have established their European operations in Ireland, over 80 of these from California. Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Oracle, Sun Microsystems, Apple, Amdahl - all of the major California technology companies have discovered the benefits of investing in Ireland. This in turn has helped create Ireland’s software industry - Ireland is now after the United States, the second largest exporter of software in the world. We now have over 700 software companies in Ireland. The development is coming full circle, as we now have over 40 Irish software and technology companies with offices in California.
There is now great potential for Californian and Irish technology companies in terms of joint-ventures and partnerships. Ireland is determined to build on its success and we are already emerging as the e-commerce centre for Europe. We are delighted that Governor Davis will be visiting Ireland in October, which will provide us with further opportunities to increase trade and cooperation between Ireland and California.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I know that many of you have been following developments in the Irish peace process and share the prayers of Irish people and friends of Ireland around the world that it will lead to a permanent peace.
The Good Friday Agreement undoubtedly was an historic breakthrough in the history of our country, holding out the prospect of a future where the people of Ireland can overcome the tragic divisions of our past and dedicate ourselves to building a future together based on partnership, equality, reconciliation and tolerance.
And although we have experienced some difficulties and disappointments as we have sought to implement it, I remain fully convinced that the people of Ireland want the Agreement to succeed. They have overwhelmingly endorsed all that it has to offer them and, most of all, they recognise that the compromise and accommodation it entails are necessary if we are to see the new society we all dream of come into being.
Our politicians are working very hard to reach agreement on a way in which all can take the Agreement forward together. I know that you will join me in wishing them every success.
Through all of the ups and downs of the peace process we have greatly appreciated the enormous support, encouragement which we have received from all the friends of Ireland here in the United States - your continued commitment to the cause of peace and justice in Ireland has, and will continue to sustain us in our difficult journey. On behalf of the people of Ireland, I would like to express our deep thanks and appreciation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me conclude by recalling the words of a great Irishman and Californian, James D. Phelan, a United States Senator for California, and Mayor of San Francisco. As my visit to California draws to an end, I wholeheartedly agree with him when he wrote
“California is full of wonderful things. I am stout in my conviction that if I were given Heaven and California, I would rent Heaven and live in California.”
Nach mór an rud é sin le maíomh. Sin fear a raibh and dá bhua aige: tírghrá agus ciall, agus nach breá an rud é an dá rud a bheith i dteannta a chéile in aon duine amháin!
Thank You