REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE TO THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE TO THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF NEW YEAR’S GREETINGS
A Oirircis, A Dhéin an Chóir Thaidhleoireachta, A Oirirceasa, a Aire Stáit De Róiste agus a Dhaoine Óga, cuireann sé áthas orm agus ar m’fhear céile, Mairtín, fáilte ó chroí a chur romhaibh go léir go hÁras an Uachtaráin.
Your Excellency, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Excellencies, Minister Roche, ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys, I am delighted to extend to you a céad míle fáilte, one hundred thousand welcomes to Áras an Uachtaráin. I thank you for your kind greetings to Martin and myself and, through us, to the people of Ireland. In 2011, I wish for each one of you and the citizens of your countries what I wish for the people of Ireland - a year of peace, of opportunity and of hope.
The international community is indebted to you and your colleagues for the role you as diplomats play around the world. Through your patient work, you open avenues of communication and pursue dialogue so that we, who are regrettably too often strangers to each other around the world, can learn to understand each other better. Your work, while it has the aura of glamour in the eyes of the public, is tough on you and tough on families. So I thank also your families who make sacrifices in order that our world can function more safely and more harmoniously.
For Martin and I, our final year in Áras an Uachtaráin has begun. We both grew up in one of the world’s best known conflict zones and so we have no illusions about human nature. We have seen good times and bad over these past thirteen years, both here in Ireland and around the world. Yet we have never lost our faith in the capacity of good to triumph over evil or of human solidarity to change the course of history.
In the sphere of Ireland’s foreign policy there have been many highlights during my time as President including the enlargement of the EU, particularly welcoming ten new member states in May 2004 at a ceremony here in the Áras; the development of economic links with new partners; the recognised effectiveness of Ireland’s official aid programme in helping the world’s poorest of the poor; and building the strongest ever relationship with our nearest neighbour as part of the establishment of peace on our island.
One of the hallmarks of Ireland’s foreign policy remains our strong commitment to the principles of multilateralism – through the United Nations, the European Union and the OSCE. The Government’s approval last December of another deployment to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon is further testament to our support for the UN as the pre-eminent organisation in promoting international peace and security. Ridding the world of the scourge of nuclear weapons has been a major focus of Irish foreign policy since the late 1950s. Ireland again played a key role at last May’s Review Conference of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, as we did in the achievement of the Cluster Munitions Convention which entered into force on 1 August, 2010.
2010 was for Ireland, among other countries, a particularly testing year faced as we are with economic and financial crises. We have a phrase in Irish, 'ní neart go cur le chéile', which tells us that strength comes from unity and we have needed both the solidarity of our people and the solidarity our European and international partners to help put in place the mechanisms needed to deal with the economic and financial problems facing our country and, indeed, the wider Union.
This is undoubtedly a demanding time for what are still a relatively new Union and a new currency. Nevertheless, the Union reflects more than ever the diversity of our continent from east to west and more than ever it is a source of stability, security and development. Hungary and Poland assume the EU Presidency for the first time this year and I wish both states every success in this leadership role. Sadly, 2010 was a year of great tragedy for Poland with the death of President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others. I reiterate my condolences to the Polish people, including the many that live in Ireland.
When I took office in 1997, Northern Ireland was still in the grip of sectarian and political conflict and violence. The peace-makers have triumphed since then and this past year saw further evidence of a changing culture and the consolidation of the peace with the devolution of policing and justice powers to Stormont. In June, the long-awaited publication of the Saville Report on Bloody Sunday was met with a humble and generous statement by Prime Minister Cameron and inspirational dignity from the relatives of the victims. Together, these represented a powerful moment of hope and healing and a reminder of how even the most seemingly intractable things can be overcome when good people refuse to give up.
The people of Ireland now face the hurdle of getting through these current economic difficulties. The future of Ireland’s economic narrative is considerably more positive than much of the contemporary discussion around banks and bail-outs might suggest for, though suffering hardship and demoralised by our costly mistakes, our people have a phenomenal capacity for dealing with adversity. Take a look around Ireland and you will find a sophisticated network of community endeavour driven by the sheer spirit of volunteers that is second to none.
You will find a great transport infrastructure; a creative and agile entrepreneurial culture; a well-educated and hard-working workforce; a high-performing export sector; evidence of remarkable levels of ongoing and growing foreign direct investment in world-class, high technology industries; and an industrial output which is defying the climate of adversity. We know there is a lot to be done to get our economy to where our people want it to be but we are fortified by considerable resources and talents for the work ahead.
As diplomats you know only too well how much effort it takes to bring about economic progress, peace, political harmony and international cooperation. You will all have known days of setbacks and sorrow. Yet as poet Brendan Kennelly says:
“something that will not acknowledge conclusion insists that we forever begin”.
We need positive people who insist on forever beginning again. They are the people who have given us the peace and they are the people who will give Ireland fresh prosperity. As we start a new year and a new decade, we look to the people who make positivity their mission and their vocation, as you do as diplomats. Without your work ours would be a much more fragile and troubled world. Thank you for investing in a world connected by friendship and mutual respect. In particular, thank you for your friendship with Ireland, and for all that you do to serve your countries and mine.
We cannot say what joys and sorrow 2011 will bring but we know it will bring both. May your work help us cope well as an international community with whatever it brings and may your work and play in Ireland bring you and your families the deepest of personal fulfilment and contentment. Please give the good wishes of the Irish people to all those you represent so well.
Gúim rath and sonas oraibh go léir, I wish all prosperity and happiness and I would now like to propose a toast:
TO THE HEADS OF STATE HERE REPRESENTED.