REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH CENTRE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH CENTRE TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN
I have great pleasure in being here today and I would like to thank the Children’s Research Centre, and particularly my old friend and former colleague Robbie Gilligan, for their invitation to formally launch the Centre.
The co-founders of this centre, Robbie Gilligan and Dr Sheila Greene, deserve great credit for their vision and commitment both in overseeing its establishment back in 1995 and in nurturing it towards the great success it is today.
I have no doubt that one of the key reasons for that success is the multidisciplinary and partnership approach that has been adopted by the Centre. This has not only involved a joint initiative by the Departments of Psychology and Social Studies here at Trinity, but also the development of a strong working relationship with statutory, community and voluntary bodies working in the field. That partnership has ensured that all relevant voices are heard and that valuable experience and expertise have been pooled towards a common aim: that of understanding and addressing the needs of children in our society.
Indeed it is salutary to remind ourselves of how many of the world’s most innovative research projects have succeeded as a result of a partnership approach of this kind - and how many more might have been achieved if this approach prevailed more often. It is only when the good of society is put before individual hopes to be the first, to be the ones that make the breakthrough, that the full potential of human genius can be realised. I am delighted to see that this Centre has taken that message to its heart, in the interests of our children’s welfare.
It is said that ‘what is engraved in childhood, is engraved in stone’. It is therefore all the more important that we understand and respond to the needs of children in this increasingly complex world. They are, after all, the adults of tomorrow and the shapers of tomorrow’s world. Their capacity to reach their full potential is in our hands.
Credible, scholarly research has a crucial role to play in our understanding of children’s needs and experiences, of their development and of the problems affecting them. This is particularly important in the case of disadvantaged children and for those affected by issues such as the impact of drug abuse within our society. Research of this kind is essential in ensuring that the real needs of children are identified and that appropriate policies and services are developed as a result. It is a vital contribution to public debate, a necessary cantilever to mythology and anecdote. Research can also give meaningful expression to, and support for, children’s rights, an issue which our society is only starting to come to grips with in many ways. This century’s learning curve has obliterated many of our skewered and disastrous ways of dealing with relationships. Our grandparents and great grandparents grew up in a world where the master was free to use physical violence in the reasonable chastisement of his employees, wife, children and animals. Today our world rightly looks askance at such a wicked way of treating human beings – for employees, wives and animals the times have changed – for children not quite fully yet.
It comes as no surprise to me that Trinity College should be associated with this innovative Centre. It is yet another fine example of its dedication not only to academic excellence, but also to social progress. Having had the privilege of working in Trinity myself, I can appreciate the level of work and commitment required to get this type of project off the ground. I warmly commend all those who have been involved with the initiative, especially, Robbie Gilligan and Sheila Greene and the Centre’s Programme Director, Barry Cullen.
I wish all of you continued success in all your endeavours. I am delighted to now officially launch the Children’s Research Centre.