REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A LUNCH HOSTED BY THE GOVERNOR OF SAO PAULO, GERALDO ALCKMIN
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT A LUNCH HOSTED BY THE GOVERNOR OF SAO PAULO, GERALDO ALCKMIN, PALACIO BANDEIRANTES, BRAZIL
Boa tarde a todos - Good afternoon everyone.
It is an honour to be here with you in Sao Paulo at this exciting time for us all when your great city celebrates its 450th birthday and Ireland holds the Presidency of the European Union just as ten new member states get ready to join. These are times of hope for both of us and in this moment we renew the bonds of deep affection between Ireland and Brazil and build the friendships, which will sustain a new generation.
Thank you Mr Governor for hosting this wonderful lunch and for giving me the benefit of your insights into the current economic and social condition of Sao Paulo so crucial as it is to Brazil economically, socially, politically and culturally.
For external observers one of the most striking aspects of recent Brazilian history has been the successful consolidation of democracy within a relatively short number of years of the end of military rule. This point was brought home to me Mr Governor when I became aware that you yourself had received the support of more than 12 million people in the gubernatorial elections of 2002. There are few office holders anywhere in the world whose positions are underwritten by so strong a democratic mandate. The number of people who voted for you Mr Governor is equivalent to three times the population of my small country.
Yet even here Irish men and women have contributed to the story of your city and your country, no group more so than the Irish missionaries who have worked for many years among the poor of Sao Paolo and elsewhere. Their work brought Ireland to Brazil and it also brought Brazil to Ireland. They have been great ambassadors for both of us as well as champions of a selfless way of life that seeks no reward other than the well-being of the poor.
It is also good to see the cultural links between us growing ever stronger, thanks to initiatives like Irish Studies Programme at the University of Sao Paulo that has been in operation since 1980. The University’s annual Bloomsday festivities in commemoration of James Joyce, and the selection of the University of Sao Paulo to host the conference of the International Association for the Studies of Irish Literature in 2002 are testament to our modern and dynamic relationship. But economic links bring jobs and prosperity and these have been a special highlight of this visit for I am accompanied by a substantial trade delegation from Ireland representing many successful companies and sectors. This morning I attended a business breakfast that brought together enterprises based in Ireland and Brazil and we hope the person to person relationships developed there will promote even healthier trade links between our two countries from which both our people’s can prosper. Already we have reassuring evidence of the successful economic links forged between Ireland and Brazil by the Kerry Group from Ireland, which operates plants in Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais states.
I know that 2003 was a difficult year in economic terms for Sao Paulo and for the Brazilian economy as a whole. I was glad to learn however, that there have been recent indications that an economic recovery may be underway. The resumption of economic growth would be good news not only for Sao Paulo and for Brazil as a whole but also for Ireland and other countries, which aim to strengthen their investment and trade links with Brazil. We wish you well as you give leadership to your people and work for the enhancement of their lives through greater opportunity. I hope that Ireland will play a role in Brazil’s new and better future and I look forward to the growth and development of even stronger partnerships and friendship between us.
On this positive note, Muito Obrigada - Thank you very much.