NOVEMBER 2008
www.celtic-connection.com
Page 17
'We have the strength of the European Union around our small economy which is comforting9
ANCOUVER - After being forced to postpone an earlier planned visit to Vancouver, His Excellency the Ambassador of Ireland, Declan Kelly, was welcomed to the Lower Mainland by a number of representatives from various Irish organizations last month.
Following a protocol visit to Victoria to meet with the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, the Honourable Steven L. Point, and various other government officials, he travelled to Vancouver accompanied by his wife Anne.
He made a point of sitting down with each Irish organization group on an individual basis in order to acquaint himself with the local community and to make a personal contact with each one.
On October 21, Ambassador Kelly met with The Celtic Connection and spoke about the purpose of his trip and his ambition to return along with an Irish government minister - possibly even the Taoiseach - for
INTERVIEW By MAURA McCAY
a more in-depth visit with the larger Irish community.
"As you know from talking with the paper over the last while," he said, "it has been my intention to come out and try to get to know the Irish community here.
"Thank you very much to yourself and Catholine for your help in providing the background information and contacts for the various Irish organizations that I have met over the past two days.
"I found that very helpful. If you host a function, what tends to happen is you maybe meet a small group of people, and there are people you miss.
DECLAN KELLY, the Ambassador of Ireland to Canada met with members of the GAA during his visit to Vancouver. Shown above (L-R) Sean Twomey (coach, selector, Vancouver Harps Hurling); Peter Agnew (coach, selector, Vancouver Harps Men's Football); Renee McGloin (player's representative, Vancouver Harps Ladies' Football); Ambassador Declan Kelly; Ronan Deane (chairman, Western Canada Division); Marcus Treacy (president, Vancouver Irish Sporting and Social Club); and John O'Flynn (secretary, Canadian County Board).
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REPRESENTATIVES from the Irish Heritage Society of B.C. with Ambassador Kelly (centre): (L-R) George and Teresa McDonnell, Ivan Douglas, Adriennne Sutherland, Tom O'Flynn.
"This way, I was able to sit down with various people and they were able to tell me their stories, how their organizations work, and how they come together.
"I personally felt, certainly from the Embassy's point of view, that it worked very well and I hope the groups also feel the same."
Speaking about the reaction to the new budget and the impact of the global economic crisis on Ireland, Ambassador Kelly explained, "Ireland is a very open economy, probably one of most globalized economies in the world, but we're not immune from the icy winds that are blowing in the financial sector these days.
"The Government has had to take some tough decisions in the budget, but as the Taoiseach has said what we have to do in these very difficult times, not just in Ireland or Europe, but indeed for the rest of the world, is to protect the gains of the past 15 years.
"We have to position the economy that we will be well able to take advantage of the pick-up, which hopefully will come sooner rather than later.
"In the short term this means that we have had to have what we call a tough budget and we haven't had such a budget in a number of years. The Taoiseach's view is that if we don't do this now, we could put at risk the gains that we have made in the past 15 years.
"In the early eighties, Ireland's debt-GDP was in excess of 100 percent. At the moment, our debt-GDP is about 27 percent, which is below the European average. We have built up a considerable amount of wealth. We have a future fund for pensions.
"We're also a member of the euro which is very important. There are 15 countries in the euro zone, so we have the strength of the European Union around our small economy which is very comforting.
"Ireland has a strong economy and we feel we are well positioned to deal with what is a worldwide situation and indeed one which is beginning to emerge in Canada in recent weeks."
In Northern Ireland, it has been months since members of the power sharing Northern Ireland Executive has met at Stormont.
While Sinn Fein and the DUP have been involved in talks aimed at overcoming their differences and securing agreement for a full cabinet meeting, the situation remains unresolved and the potential for collapse looms once again over the devolved institution.
Ambassador Kelly said, "This is obviously of concern to the Irish Government.
"Over the past couple of years, the progress has been astonishing, there is no doubt about it, and above all, the people in Northern Ireland, and indeed in the South and in Britain don't want to jeopardize the gains that have been made.
"There is no doubt there are difficulties on both sides. Both the Irish Government and the British Government understand that but we are urging the parties to get together, and it is very important that we do not put at risk the extraordinary gains we have made over the past number of years.
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CATHOLINE BUTLER and Maura McCay of The Celtic Connection with the Ambassador of Ireland Declan Kelly.
"Being realistic, the problems in Northern Ireland are deep seated and go back over many decades and indeed centuries.
"Just 10 to 15 years ago, the people involved in government in Northern Ireland wouldn't even come into the same room with each other, so we have come a long way.
"Obviously there are deeply held views on both sides. These will have to be worked through and I can assure your readers that the Irish Government and the British Government will continue to work closely with both sides in Northern Ireland to try and bring about an end to the lockdown."
In closing, Ambassador Kelly spoke
about his strategy which involves both Alberta and British Columbia at this point to organize a visit by an Irish government minister.
He said, "I believe there are tremendous opportunities in both provinces, both on an economic front and in developing contacts.
"It is certainly the aim of the Embassy to encourage a government minister to see firsthand the vibrant Irish communities which exist in Calgary and Edmonton and, of course, in the great City of Vancouver."
•
For more information on the Embassy of Ireland in Ottawa, visit their website at: www.embassyofireland.ca.
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