Remarks by President McAleese at a reception to highlight the Universal Accessibility Programme
Remarks by President McAleese at a reception to highlight the Universal Accessibility Programme at Áras an Uachtaráin
Dia dhíbh go léir, agus cead míle fáilte romhaibh. Good afternoon, everybody.
Martin and I are delighted to welcome you all this afternoon to highlight the progress of the latest stage of the universal access project at Áras an Uachtaráin, by which we ensure that the Áras, home of all of Ireland’s Presidents since the inception of the State, is truly accessible to all of Ireland’s citizens.
This afternoon’s reception celebrates the completion of the latest phase of this programme of hard work and planning, which resulted in the building works, renovation and numerous accessibility sub-projects from which I hope that all the people of Ireland - irrespective of disability - will benefit for years to come.
It is now almost ten years since my family and I first moved into the Áras. We know how very lucky we are to live in a house with so colourful a history and a house that is so much a part of the story of our country. It is a beautiful building but like so many old and elegant buildings it was not built with too much thought about those who might have difficulty navigating its narrow corridors and warren of rooms or getting up its many steps and stairs.
Today we see the home of Ireland’s President as a place where every visitor must feel welcome. Ours is a hard won republic of equals and this house above all places should resonate with a built-in sensitivity to those who have special requirements to ensure that they feel fully welcomed. In making the necessary changes we have been deeply mindful of the heritage and history of the house but we have also been deeply mindful of the rightful needs of our citizens. The OPW has done a brilliant job of marrying accessibility and history. There is more to be done, I am sure, but in the end what we will have is not some token bolt-on or afterthought but a mainstreamed insistence of access every bit as mainstreamed as considerations like health and safety.
Thank you to the NDA for the hugely important advice and assistance you have given us throughout this project. I am delighted to welcome also, representatives of the five other national disability umbrella advocacy bodies who are also members of the National Disability Strategy Stakeholders’ Monitoring Group, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach. This ongoing dialogue with these organisations will ensure that the results of our combined efforts are exactly as they should be.
The Áras is a phenomenally busy environment and yet the OPW has managed the execution of very substantial building works, in a predominantly eighteenth century building, while we continued business as usual. That is a telling testament to the skill and organisational abilities of all those persons involved and I say to them a very big thank you—in particular to the team from Architectural Services in the OPW—to Angela Rolfe, Kevin McKenna, Kate Quinn and Amy Jennings. From the OPW’s project management services side, Jack Brennan provided invaluable support, as did Robert Guihen from the Furniture Branch, while of course the project depended upon sponsorship at the highest level in that organisation, for which we thank the Chairman of the OPW, Sean Benton, as well as Commissioners David Byers and Claire McGrath. It would be remiss of me to not to give a special mention to our own Delia Hickey, who, with Tom Hemp and his team, is responsible for the management of the Áras house and grounds. I'm sure you’ll all agree that they do a fantastic job, even if at times they feel like it will never end!
Today we celebrate a big team effort on a project undertaken with a heart and a half. We are proud of the results to date not just because they look so wonderful but because we believe that the welcome is now being built in, in a way it never was before. So this is a celebration - enjoy the entertainment provided by Raphaela Mangan with Mairead Hurley on the piano, and then take the tour which should give you an idea of the scale of the accomplishment we are so delighted with today.
Martin and I hope you have a great afternoon, and return home safely, bringing many fond memories of your visit to Áras an Uachtaráin.
Go raibh mile maith agaibh go léir.