Speech at Lunch in honour of Australian Governor General
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to welcome the Governor General of Australia and Lady Deane here this afternoon. It is a particular honour for us that he has chosen to include Ireland in his first visit overseas, since he assumed the position of Governor General in 1996. I know that this visit is very largely motivated by way of responding to the highly successful state visit of President McAleese to Australia in September 1998, of which he was the official host.
We heard last night from the President herself of the extraordinary welcome she received throughout her visit to Australia. I know that she is very happy, as we all are, to be able to return this hospitality. Indeed, I can vouch myself for Australian warmth and friendliness, when I recall my visit to Australia in 1986, on the eve of the Bicentennial Celebrations of the establishment of the first European Settlement in Sydney in 1788.
I was a member of the first Irish Parliamentary Delegation to visit Australia, which was instrumental in establishing the Australia Ireland Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Federal Parliament. I am glad to say that, over the last ten years, the Group has grown significantly in numbers and in prestige and, now with 115 members, it is the largest Friendship Group in the Federal Parliament, and includes 50% of the entire Federal Parliament. This reflects the strong parliamentary links between our two countries which continue to thrive.
Ireland and Australia are forged together by strong links of history as few other countries are. Over one third of Australians can claim Irish origins. Some of the most famous names of Irish history associated with the 1798 rebellion, and later on with the Young Ireland movement, were transported to Australia, while thousands of others, unknown beyond their immediate families, also crossed the seas to the land they rightly perceived as one filled with opportunity and hope. Our songs and ballads remind us constantly of all those who left the Fields of Athenry to go to Van Diemen's Land and other penal destinations.
The story of the Deanes and the Egans is one of countless such stories. I am very glad that the Governor General, who has devoted considerable personal time and attention to preparing for his visit, will be availing of the opportunity while here to visit Lorrha and Dorrha in Co. Tipperary, the home of his ancestors, and so deepen his acquaintance with his own personal history. Exchanges such as these play a crucial role in maintaining and deepening our bilateral relationship. However, I am glad to say that, having studied for some time at Trinity College, his links with Ireland are also of a more contemporary, as well as a happier nature, and that during this visit he has also been able to renew these links.
Although this is the first visit to Ireland of an Australian Governor General while in office, a number of Sir William's predecessors have visited in a private capacity. These included Sir Zeeman Cohen, and notably the distinguished and learned Sir Ninian Steven. Sir Ninian, of course, played a vital role in chairing Northern Ireland talks at a crucial period in the early 1990's. We have always greatly valued the interest and support of Australia in our search for peace in Northern Ireland.
I would like to use this opportunity to express the Irish Governments appreciation for the generous Australian contribution to the International Fund for Ireland, which amounted to seven million Australian dollars in the period 1995-1999.
I can assure you that the contribution is well spent, in carrying out projects aimed at economic regeneration and cross-border reconciliation. In fact, the Governor General has just returned this morning from a visit to an Australian funded cross-border project in Dundalk. In 1998, for the first time, the Fund carried out two youth-training projects in Australia, as well as sponsoring a pilot-project linking Irish firms North and South, with Australian firms in the high-tech area.
The success achieved in the Irish economy over recent years is well known and well documented. Growth rates for 1998 and 1999 will be more than eight per cent, making the Irish economy the fastest growing in the developed world. Large numbers of new jobs are being created, and unemployment levels have been driven down below the European average while inflation is being kept at historically low levels. Membership of the European Union has played an important role in transforming our economy, and has given Irish industry free and unhindered access to a market of some 360 million consumers.
Similarly, Australia's economy is sound, and is growing at an impressive rate. Interest rates and unemployment are both being brought down steadily. Economic growth has been maintained, despite downturns in the Asian economic region which are of such direct importance for key sectors in Australia. I believe that one of the important reasons for Australia's success in weathering the storm of the last eighteen months or so, has been the enduring and vibrant economic links which it maintains with Europe.
The EU is Australia's largest trading partner and source of foreign direct investment, and we in Ireland welcome every opportunity to further strengthen this relationship. Ireland welcomes the dynamic co-operation between the European Union and Australia, which was opened up by the signature of the Joint Declaration on Relations in June 1997. We believe the Declaration provides a wide scope for expanding our co-operation in policy areas.
Like Australia, Ireland looks forward to the new round of negotiations in the WTO Millennium Round. In spite of some differences in objectives, and the legitimate need to take account of our respective interests, both the EU and Australia share a common support for, and commitment to, the multilateral system.
Economic and business relations between our two countries are also excellent, and total trade has more than doubled in the past five years. Australia is now Ireland's third largest market outside Europe. We have also seen the rapid expansion of Irish Business Networks across Australia and, in February, a group of Irish and Australian companies signed an impressive co-operation agreement in the high-technology sector.
Tourism has doubled over the last four years with an anticipated 140,000 Australian visitors this year.
Many of the larger Irish companies have invested in Australia. Australia's position in the Asia Pacific region is a positive factor for Irish companies, wishing to penetrate Asian markets.
In a similar way, Ireland offers significant advantages to Australian companies wishing to establish a presence in the European market. Our location in Europe and our active development of the European market, our participation in the European single currency, as well as the performance of our economy, have helped us to attract over 1,100 overseas companies to Ireland, including 15 Australian companies, such as Michell Leather, QBE Insurance, and Allied Queensland Coalfields. We hope that the Australian business community will increasingly come to see Ireland as an attractive place to do business.
Our sporting links are also vibrant. I could mention the GAA - AFL Composite Games, last year in Ireland and this year in Australia. And Ireland will play Australia in the Rugby World Cup in October. We have some little way to go yet before we attain the high success rate of our rugby colleagues in the Southern hemisphere!
I understand that the Australian team will be based in Dublin during the World Cup. And of course, the international Olympic community looks forward to the Sydney Games next year.
The Irish Australian relationship is kept alive also through cultural links. This is an exciting time for us both, as Irish Australians become increasingly interested in their roots and the culture of their country of origin. Australians are displaying a growing interest in Irish theatre, writing, the visual arts and Irish music and dance.
I am aware that the Director of the National Gallery of Australia, who was formerly the Assistant Director of our own National Gallery, is anxious to mark the importance of the Irish diaspora in Australia by displaying a significant art object from Ireland. I understand that the Book of Kells has been suggested for display in the National Gallery of Australia for a period in early 2000 and that Trinity College would be prepared to consider favourably such a loan.
It would be nice if such a request can be facilitated. Undoubtedly, there are many risks, some obvious, and many not so obvious, associated with the movement of such a national treasure outside of its permanent and secure home. My colleague the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms. Síle de Valera, T.D., in considering any formal request to allow this priceless object to leave the country would have to evaluate these risks against the desire to allow the Book to travel, in the context of her statutory responsibilities under the National Monuments Acts.
I thank all those in Trinity College, in the National Gallery of Australia, and of course our own Minister for Tourism, Sport & Recreation, Dr. Jim McDaid, T.D., and also Minister De Valera, for all their work so far.
Ireland and Australia share a long-standing commitment, and a similar approach to the United Nations. This is reflected in the close co-operation between our two countries in all areas of work of that world organisation. For Ireland, a dynamic and constructive participation at the United Nations continues to be a central part of our foreign policy, and of our independent and sovereign place in the world.
It is on this basis that Ireland has presented its candidacy for election to non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the two-year term 2001 - 2002. It is a candidacy which I am gratified to say, has been well received in all regions. I would like here to express my deep appreciation for the early and constant support which Australia has extended to Ireland in this regard.
Sir William and Lady Deane, we welcome you to Ireland and we wish you a very happy visit and most pleasant memories to bring back home to Australia with you.
ENDS.