REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OPENING OF THE JOINT BASCD/EADPH CONFERENCE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE OPENING OF THE JOINT BASCD/EADPH CONFERENCE, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CORK, THURSDAY, 14th SEP
Is breá liom bheith anseo i bhúr measc ag an ócaid specialta seo, agus ba mhaith liom mo bhúiochas a chur in iul dibh as an chuireadh agus as fáilte fíorchaoin.
I am honoured to join you this afternoon to open this joint conference of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry and the European Association of Dental Public Health. I would like to thank University College, Cork, in particular, its President, Professor Gerry Wrixon and Dr. Michael Mortell, past President, who contacted me initially, for the kind invitation.
I am particularly proud that this conference is being held in Ireland. Not everyone may understand the mysterious allure of dentistry as a career and I as a mere lawyer might not be expected to have the remotest understanding of the things which you get professionally passionate about but in fact I probably have more understanding than most. I am wife and sister to two born again, late vocation dentists, one of whom gave up a career in accountancy and the other in flying, to embrace teeth with an abandon that took their families by surprise!
I am delighted to welcome each and everyone of you to Cork and to say a special cead míle fáilte to those who are visiting Ireland for the first time. It is wonderful to see that this conference has attracted so many distinguished professionals from the field of dentistry world-wide. Here in Cork I hope you will find exactly the right forum in which to debate that which you already know about your discipline, that which you intuit or dare to imagine and that which you hope for the future.
Each of you has made the journey to Cork because you care about your profession and the people it serves. You each have your own reservoir of experience, skill and insight and you bring these with you. In a spirit of generosity you will share these things with others and in a spirit of scholarly curiosity and humility you will listen and hopefully learn from each other. You will be reassured by the things you hear which match your own understanding and deeply challenged by things which sound different, new or unknown. What you are doing here is engaging in the life blood of any successful discipline, keeping dynamic its spirit of intellectual enquiry and pushing out its boundaries. Speakers at this conference will share with us their vast international experience. We are eager to listen and to learn from our international friends and colleagues and to share our own extensive Irish experiences with them. You know that in sharing knowledge nothing is taken away from you but a huge new resource is added to what is available to all of us.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Professor Denis O’Mullane, the current President of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry. Professor O’Mullane is the first Irish President of the Association. I know that his presidency is due to the considerable contribution he has made, and continues to make, to dental public health. I am sure that his wealth of knowledge and experience in the area of oral health will prove invaluable over the coming two days. I would also like to welcome past presidents, Mr. Anthony Jenner, Professor Martin Downer and all other members of the British
Association for the Study of Community Dentistry from both Ireland and Britain. May I also welcome to Ireland, Professor Roberto Ferro from Citadella in Italy. Professor Ferro is President of the European Association of Dental Public Health and is also part of the organising committee for this conference.
It is encouraging to see such wonderful co-operation and collaboration between Ireland and its European counterparts. It is thanks to individuals and organisations present today at this conference that we have a growing and robust network of professional friendships and collaborations. Through your willingness to create and sustain these relationships you bring important benefits to the peoples of these two neighbouring islands and the rest of Europe.
I extend a heartfelt welcome to the young scientists and public health workers from EU member states and associate states who are part of the EU-funded 5th Framework Programme for Research and Technical Development. Your presence in this learning and sharing forum is a great opportunity to learn from those with vast experience and to cultivate your confidence and enthusiasm for this work. For you and for all gathered here I hope that the conference gives you a renewed and fresh commitment to your professional vocation, that you will leave Cork with many friendships, many happy shared memories and a deep urge to build on what you have heard here.
It took a tremendous effort by many individuals and groups to organise this event. Each deserves thanks for their contribution to the success of this conference. I hope that you all enjoy the next few days in Cork and that you meet old friends and make new friends in the dental profession.
May I wish you an enjoyable and informative break in this wonderful city and a safe journey home.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go leir.