Remarks to the Diplomatic Corps on the occasion of the presentation of New Year’s Greetings
Áras an Uachtaráin, 22nd January 2013
A Oirircis, A Dhéin an Chóir Thaidhleoireachta, A Oirirceasa, a Aire Stáit Alan Kelly T.D., a Uaisle Uile agus a Dhaoine Óga, cuireann sé áthas orm agus ar mo bhean chéile, Sabina, céad míle fáilte a chur romhaibh go léir go hÁras an Uachtaráin.
Your Excellency, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Excellencies, Minister of State Alan Kelly T.D., ladies and gentlemen, Sabina and I are delighted to welcome you and your families to Áras an Uachtaráin.
Gabhaim buíochas leat ar maidin, a Shoilse, as ucht na mbeannachtaí cineálta orm féin agus ar Sabina. Tá an-áthas orm glacadh leis na beannachtaí seo thar mo cheann féin agus thar ceann muintir na hÉireann. Agus muid ag tabhairt aghaidh ar Bhliain Nua, is é mo ghuí do gach aon duine agaibh agus do shaoránaigh bhur dtíortha an ghuí céanna atá agam do mhuintir na hÉireann: bliain síochána, bliain dóchais agus bliain ratha.
[ I thank you, Your Excellency, for your kind greetings to Sabina and myself this morning. I am very glad to receive those greetings on our own behalf and on behalf of the people of Ireland. As we begin a New Year, my wish for each one of you and for the citizens of your countries is the wish that I share also for the people of Ireland: a year of peace, hope and opportunity. ]
The beginning of a New Year is a time for reflection but it is also a time to look forward, as we rededicate ourselves to our shared commitment to international co-operation and to addressing the challenges which face us globally – particularly, the tasks of peace building, food security and environmental justice.
Through my own experience in the international arena over many years,
I have seen at first hand the work which is undertaken by diplomats as you work to strengthen bilateral relations between countries, as well as your valuable accomplishments in the multilateral environments which are so important to us all. Let me pay tribute now to that public service and to the commitment and support of your partners and families as you carry out your duties.
One of those regular, very important but often unsung duties is the provision of consular support to citizens in distress. I am acutely conscious that a number of diplomatic colleagues here today will have been affected by the loss of life of fellow citizens arising from last week’s terrible events in Algeria. To all those affected, I offer to your Governments and peoples my deepest sympathies on this tragic loss of life.
The fact that one such tragedy can impact on so many countries underlines our interdependency. It reminds us all of the importance of reaffirming our common values of shared humanity and solidarity, and of strengthening our commitment to international cooperation. Mindful of the importance of interdependency in our global world, I would like to avail of this opportunity to convey my best wishes, and those of the Irish people, to President Obama as he begins his second term in office.
European Union
On January 1st, Ireland assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This is Ireland’s seventh Presidency, which it assumes with honour, marking 40 years since Ireland joined the European Economic Community in 1973.
We assume the helm, at a time of great change and opportunity. The EU has faced challenges in the course of recent years but existential suggestions that major fault lines were emerging have considerably abated. The EU has taken significant steps forward. However, great challenges remain. Citizens across Europe continue to face difficult situations and the principal amongst them is the unacceptably high levels of unemployment.
Across the Union, 26 million men and women were without employment at the end of 2012. The overall EU-27 unemployment rate is 10.7% but it ranges from 5% in some Member States to 26% in others. The jobless rates for young people in particular are deeply troubling, ranging from 8% in some Member States to over 50% in others.
Addressing this scourge of unemployment must be the Union’s major priority. Failure to do so has consequences beyond the economic realm. It runs the risk of alienating a generation from the political process and leading to a loss of faith in the institutional effectiveness of the Union. This is why I am pleased that the Irish Presidency is focusing on three urgent and fundamental priorities; Stability, Jobs and Growth.
Ireland, in its Presidency, looks forward to working to advance the promotion of greater stability and confidence in the European economy – a confidence that will stimulate investment, sustainable economic recovery and job creation. At the same time, the Irish Presidency will work to advance measures in other areas such as the Single Market, the Digital Agenda and the research and innovation sector. The Presidency also plans to advance Trade Agreements with strategic partners.
Underpinning all of that work is a firm commitment of the Irish Presidency to ensure a strong social agenda. The decision of the Heads of State and Government to include the social dimension in their consideration of the future of the Economic and Monetary Union is a welcome recognition of the importance of solidarity and cohesion.
The challenges are great but Ireland starts its Presidency with a feeling of optimism. It does so because it recognises a commitment by European leaders to work closely together and to find common solutions to the problems that face all Member States. We all may not always agree on all issues, but we recognise that together we are stronger, and EU members have demonstrated in the past that they can overcome great challenges. Working closely together, they can do so again. The recent award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the EU should serve as a reminder to all Europeans where we have come from and what can be achieved if inclusive and generous values are at the heart of our shared endeavours.
On the 40th anniversary of Ireland’s accession to the EU in 1973, we have an opportunity to state again the very profound and positive changes that EU membership has brought to Irish society, and the contribution that Ireland – long a European minded nation – has made to the development of today’s Union. We are well aware of the economic benefits that Ireland has accrued from its membership – the funding provided to improve our national infrastructure, as well as the Single Market which has delivered great opportunities to expand trade and made Ireland such a strong exporting nation. We sometimes however fail to recall the enormous social benefits that have been delivered. Membership of the EU has encouraged Ireland to become a fairer and more equal society and women and young people have been amongst the greatest beneficiaries of our Union.
At present Governments within the European Union are understandably preoccupied with regenerating the economy, securing our currency and stabilising the banking system. But we must not lose sight of the wider vision for Europe, envisaged from the founding Treaties, a vision that not only valued peace but also the fruits of a shared peace. The Union is far more than a currency zone. It is a framework for the maintenance and development of shared values that give meaning and vitality to our European heritage – values such as solidarity, social cohesion and an openness to positively engage with other cultures and identities.
Within Europe, the Union, its institutions and governments must work harder to listen to its citizens and to promote greater engagement by citizens in EU affairs. For too long we have heard that citizens feel cut off and experience a democratic deficit. 2013 has been designated as the European Year of Citizens and it provides the EU with a real opportunity to listen carefully to what our people are saying and take renewed energy from it.
Along with Britain and Denmark, Ireland joined what was then the EEC in 1973 – the first enlargement of the EU to nine Member States. One of my fondest memories of Ireland’s last EU Presidency in 2004 was the Day of Welcomes that took place here in Áras an Uachtaráin and which saw the accession of ten new Member States to the EU. Romania and Bulgaria have of course since joined the Union, and I look forward to Croatia joining the EU later this year.
I hope that the Irish Presidency will make strong progress in its enlargement agenda and, in doing so, secure a future of peace and democracy across Europe for future generations. For those countries in negotiations, we will work to advance the process for Iceland, Turkey, and Montenegro. Each is at a different stage in the process but the Irish Presidency hopes to open negotiation Chapters with all of them.
OSCE
As we look forward to our EU Presidency, Ireland can look back with some satisfaction on a successful Chairmanship-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) last year. During our Chairmanship, we sought in particular to share with our OSCE partners Ireland’s unique experience of conflict resolution. We welcomed representatives from the OSCE and its partners to Dublin for the 19th OSCE Ministerial Council in December, which was the largest ever gathering of Foreign Ministers in Ireland. I wish Ukraine every success in taking over at the helm of the OSCE this year.
United Nations Human Rights Council
The promotion and protection of human rights is a cornerstone of our foreign policy, one that resonates strongly with the Irish people. Late last year, Ireland was elected for the first time to the UN Human Rights Council. Our election is an endorsement, I would hope, of the esteem in which Ireland is held on human rights issues. This reputation has been earned over the decades through our participation in the work of the UN: through our staunch support for the anti-colonial movement, when human rights were in their embryonic state; through our opposition to apartheid in the old South Africa; and through our consistent advocacy on human rights issues internationally.
Membership of the Council is a great responsibility. It is a significant opportunity to advance a meaningful discourse on human rights at the international level. As Members, we will staunchly defend the universality of human rights, and we will speak out on behalf of the vulnerable and the marginalised.
Syria
All of us who value human rights have been shocked and horrified by the appalling conflict and suffering inflicted upon the Syrian population over the past 22 months. It is incumbent upon us to give whole-hearted support to the peace efforts underway and to fully support the work of UN/Arab League Joint Special Representative, Lakhdar Brahimi. Some form of accountability for what has transpired is also crucially important. Ireland has therefore joined with 56 other UN member States in publicly supporting the recent call upon the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.
Development
As well as human rights, the Irish people strongly believe that international development issues should be central to our foreign policy and to Ireland’s place in the world. Our aid programme reflects our sense of solidarity with those in the world who are less advantaged than we are.
Ireland takes on the Presidency of the European Union at a critical time in the international development agenda, as world leaders prepare to review progress on achieving the Millennium Development Goals and begin the work of shaping the global development framework after 2015. As Presidency, our priority will be to ensure that the EU engages actively in these important discussions, and focuses on the needs and rights of those who continue to live in poverty and hunger in a time of relative plenty.
Today chronic hunger affects one in seven or approximately 925 million of the world’s 6.8 billion people every day; the principle source of hunger is the dire poverty exacerbated by gross inequalities that, scandalously, persist. Eradicating this poverty and its consequences is, I suggest, the greatest moral and ethical challenge we, as a global community, face today.
Ireland has consistently promoted the need to address the multi-sectoral causes of under nutrition and the need to realign our development response to link agriculture, health, nutrition and social protection interventions more closely to achieve improved nutrition outcomes. At a global level, Ireland has given leadership on Hunger and Under-nutrition. In 2010 Ireland and the United States led the 1,000 Days of Action to scale up nutrition. The wider Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) movement followed. And in 2012, Ireland honoured its self imposed commitment to spend 20% of its overseas aid budget on hunger prevention.
A key theme for Ireland’s Presidency will be addressing the linkages between hunger, nutrition and the impact of climate change on the poorest countries in the world. The importance of this issue of food and hunger is recognised by it being made the subject of two high-level international conferences during the course of the Irish Presidency.
Northern Ireland
Closer to home, the recent street disturbances in Belfast and elsewhere are a sharp reminder of the need for continuing vigilance and commitment in deepening the peace process. Any complacency about the need to nurture that fledgling peace, to build confidence on the ground and to advance reconciliation between communities that have been mutually estranged for so long will reap a bitter harvest.
In the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, the sensitivity of the use of symbols and emblems was explicitly acknowledged by the participants. The need to ensure that symbols and emblems are used to promote mutual respect rather than division was accepted. The challenge for all leaders across the island is to use their influence and authority so that this generous vision is given real expression on the ground. I am encouraged by the recent steps that political and community leaders in Northern Ireland are taking in this regard and would urge them to continue with their collaborative efforts.
Despite the recent disappointing events, it is clear that the overwhelming majority of people of Northern Ireland are united in their desire for a lasting peace. I want to acknowledge the enormous hard work, commitment and vision of all those who have worked for peace over many years. My eight visits to Northern Ireland as President have shown me that lots of very positive things are happening there, not least in the area of culture and the arts. For instance, the 2013 Derry/Londonderry City of Culture is having a transformational effect on that city and its hinterland.
Rather than see these recent events on the streets as grounds for despondency, we should regard them as the catalyst for rededicating ourselves to address the residual but jagged issues arising from the peace process: to robustly tackle sectarianism and promote reconciliation; to find some way of addressing the painful issues of memory of our divided past so that they do not contaminate our shared future; and to ensure that all communities benefit in economic and social terms from the peace dividend.
Economic cooperation on the island of Ireland is increasingly important in these challenging times. I know that the Irish Government is committed to strengthening North South cooperation even further, and to working with their Northern Ministerial colleagues to develop greater economic collaboration so as to accelerate the process of economic recovery and job creation on this island.
Conclusion
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, as we start a new year and review the various challenges at global level, we look forward together to a shared future inspired by a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation where the values of peace, justice, social solidarity, prosperity and sustainability guide our collaborative endeavours.
Before concluding, allow me to express a particular word of thanks to the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, His Excellency Most Reverend Charles John Brown, Apostolic Nuncio. I particularly appreciate his kind wishes in respect of the Gathering 2013 which, is not only an important tourism initiative, but has the potential to reinforce the sense of connectivity between Ireland and its Diaspora. I also thank all of you here today for the professionalism and dedication you have displayed in the discharge of your duties.
Please convey 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.