SPEECH BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT LUNCHEON HOSTED BY THE KING AND QUEEN OF SPAIN PALACIO ZARZUELA
SPEECH BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT LUNCHEON HOSTED BY THE KING AND QUEEN OF SPAIN PALACIO ZARZUELA, MADRID MONDAY, 21ST MARCH, 2011
Your Majesties,
As the representative of the Irish people, I am deeply honoured by your invitation to pay this visit to Spain. Our nations and our peoples enjoy remarkable cultural and political affinities, historical and contemporary. As a frequent visitor to this country from my mid-teens, I can personally attest to the very special empathy that exists. I view my visit as an opportunity to rediscover the depth and wealth of an old and valued relationship and to advance our modern ties through further contacts, political dialogue, trade and investment, travel and cultural exchange.
In Ireland, we have never forgotten how Spain, at some of the darkest moments of Ireland’s history, came to our assistance including by providing refuge for Irish exiles and opportunities for their education, when such opportunities were denied to them at home. Education has been and remains a central theme of our bilateral relationship. Tomorrow, I will visit the University of Alcalá where an Irish College was founded in 1649. Your illustrious predecessor Philip II played a special role in providing Royal protection for Irish exiles. Many of these exiles and their descendants repaid their debt through loyal service to the Spanish crown, including two who served as
Prime Ministers. It is important that joint research on our shared historical legacy should continue and so I am delighted that a formal Declaration is being signed this week by the Royal Irish Academy, the Real Academia de la Historia and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Scientificas on the establishment of a Council for Spanish-Irish Historical Studies.
Your Majesties,
On reflecting upon the history of our countries, both ancient and contemporary, I am very conscious of the fact that for many years in the last century Spain was somewhat isolated from the European mainstream until its exemplary transition to the vibrant democracy that exists today. Coming here so shortly after the 30th anniversary of the events in February 1981 which placed that young democracy at such great risk, I wish to pay tribute to the pivotal role played personally by Your Majesty King Juan Carlos in uniting the Spanish people behind the democratic principles underlying your Constitution.
Today, Spain is a country with a broad vision of world affairs, a European country with special links to IberoAmerica and to the Mediterranean, gifted with a rich and varied culture and with one of the world’s leading languages. Ireland and Spain share a common international perspective, particularly in the commitment of both our countries to effective multilateral institutions, to the cause of human rights and to meeting the needs of the world’s most vulnerable people. Both our countries are leading contributors to UN peacekeeping and I am pleased that the new Irish contingent to UNIFIL in the Lebanon will be serving under Spanish command.
Spain and Ireland have for 25 years enjoyed a close partnership within the European Union. Both our countries have contributed greatly to the Union and both have enjoyed the benefits that our membership has brought. Today we face an unprecedented financial and economic crisis which affects the lives of all our people. This crisis can only be tackled through solidarity and through an effective response at European level.
This week the European Council will meet to adopt a range of measures to deal with the challenges that face us. I believe passionately that by working together and with the support of our partners, we will emerge from this crisis to a secure and sustainable future.
I remain profoundly optimistic about Ireland’s prospects. The economy is recovering. The benign factors which led to our rapid economic development remain in place, making Ireland a hugely attractive location in which to invest and to do business. Since the onset of the current crisis, we have shown the characteristic resilience and determination to overcome adversity that have served us well in the past and will see us safely through this current difficult period.
Your Majesties,
Spanish excellence is exemplified by its sporting achievements and I use this opportunity to congratulate you for the many sporting triumphs by Spanish teams over the past year, not least your victory in the World Cup which was celebrated with great joy in Ireland!
That excellence is seen in the two bridges that span the River Liffey, named after our great Dublin writers, Joyce and Beckett. These elegant monuments, both of which were designed by Santiago Calatrava, enhance the life of our capital city. The life of the city is also enhanced by the Irish Museum of Modern Art which has been directed over the last eight years by Enrique Juncosa, another example of Spanish excellence, who is with us here today.
This excellence is to be found in business too where, over the past 20 years, Spain has seen the emergence of a range of multinational companies which are now leading the world in sectors such as telecommunications, infrastructure, and renewable energy.
Promoting our economic relationship is a key aspect of my visit. We are determined to work more actively with Spanish business. Proof of this is the presence here of so many Spanish and Irish companies. I am delighted to be accompanied today by the CEOs of our State Agencies in the areas of trade, investment, tourism and the food industries.
I know that they will help to build new bridges between Ireland and Spain.
Your Majesties,
I am honoured by your invitation and the hospitality you have shown me, my husband and the Irish delegation. I invite everyone present to raise their glasses to the health of
Their Majesties, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, and to maintaining the special, trusted and ancient relationship between our two countries and our peoples.
Viva España!