Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to be in Washington DC on the eve of St Patrick’s Day with so many friends.
Nations, it’s been said, are created not only by rebels and statesmen, but by poets and artists. This is especially true for our nation.
Renowned as a people of uncommon tenacity, a particular ingenuity, possessing an unparalleled literary tradition, one to which we are all heirs.
This week is a fantastic opportunity for us all to celebrate Irish culture and heritage. An opportunity for the five million voices of this small nation to be hugely amplified by the seventy million around the globe who are Irish by birth or descent or desire.
Economic Recovery
For me as Taoiseach, I get to update you on Ireland’s recovery and renewal.
Yeats’s ‘fascination of what’s difficult’ has long preoccupied the Irish.
And as we all know, recent years have been difficult for the Irish people.
But I come here with good news from home tonight.
A message of recovery and of confidence.
A message of a resilient, ambitious people. Always ready, always capable.
Today, thanks to the sacrifices of the Irish people and the decisions taken by Government I can say with confidence that the economic recovery has taken hold.
The evidence is now clear.
The European Commission forecasts that Ireland will have the fastest growth rate in the EU in 2015 for the second year running.
Investment is up, growing more than 14% last year with strong signals of confidence across the business sector, suggesting this strong growth is set to continue, led by investment from the United States.
We had double-digit export growth in the first three quarters of 2014 and exports of Irish-owned companies reached a record high of over €18 billion last year.
I am confident of equally good figures this year, helped of course by the news that Ireland has become the only EU country authorised to export beef to the United States – something that you are all benefiting from here tonight!
We see positive trends also in our tourism statistics, in retail sales, in consumer sentiment, all pointing to renewed confidence in both the business sector and amongst the general public.
Government borrowing is falling rapidly, from a peak of €22 billion in 2011 to around €5 billion this year – and we are on track to reduce the deficit to well below 3% of GDP this year.
Of course, struggling families have little concern for GDP growth rates, bond yields, or Government deficits.
What matters are jobs and their impact on people’s lives and family finances.
There is also steady progress to report on this front.
Unemployment has come down now to 10% from 15%.
The plan is that by 2018 everybody who wants a job in Ireland can get one.
Ireland Funds
The continued generous support of the Ireland Funds is an exemplar of what can and is being done by our Diaspora for our country by ‘our people’ away for ‘our people’ at home.
John, congratulations on a very successful first year as Chair.
The Ireland Funds have played a key role in allowing vital work to continue even in these challenging times.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, your work in the arts and education has helped to change minds, communities, hearts, lives, futures.
Last year, Prime Minister David Cameron and I, and our governments, worked closely with the Northern Ireland parties to help deliver the Stormont House Agreement in December.
I would like to acknowledge the important support of the US administration throughout this process, including in particular the role played by Senator Gary Hart.
This agreement, which covers a broad range of political and economic issues including parades, flags, the past, the budget, and expenditure reform, offers the prospect of a better future for the people of Northern Ireland.
Yes, it involved tough decisions.
Yes, it involved compromise.
And yes, it will require commitment and follow through to ensure that it delivers.
It is unfortunate that, three months on, progress has been stalled.
Many of the political leaders have remained in Northern Ireland this week to try to find a way forward.
We encourage them to work through the current difficulty as speedily as possible.
This is an important test of the agreement, and of the parties resolve to implement it.
Much tougher issues have had to be tackled in the past, yet ways were found to get through them.
This, as you all know, is the essence of politics and government the world over - taking and implementing tough decisions, for the benefit of all.
I am sure I speak for everyone here in saying that the Northern Ireland Executive and political parties have no more important task.
Full implementation of the Agreement remains the best opportunity to bring long-term stability to Northern Ireland.
The work of the Ireland fund will be enormously important in the months ahead and I thank you for your continued support.
Diaspora policy
Across the world the Ireland Funds have become the benchmark for any organisation seeking to work with a Diaspora.
In Ireland, the economic crash saw the Irish Diaspora connect together in a way never been possible before.
And for all we re-build in politics or finance or economics, we know that our real wealth is in the bond of support …. of family….of insight….of friendship – at home and abroad.
And to recognise the importance of this relationship, I appointed Ireland’s first Minister for Diaspora Affairs into my own Government Department. The Diaspora is now right at the heart of government business.
One person we are honouring tonight knows our story of recovery well.
A proud Irish American, Tom Donohue was one of the first people to come to me in Dublin to say “how can I help?”
Today, his work for Ireland continues.
He gives generously of his time and talent.
An advocate at the toughest of times.
It’s always ‘we’, always ‘us’.
And it’s not just talk.
We share a characteristic: ambition and the dream...
Tom – my best wishes to you, to Liz and all the family, and my congratulations on this well deserved honour.
I also want to join in congratulating Senator Dick Durbin and Congressman Tom Rooney.
Senator Durbin, a devout friend to Ireland, an ally on immigration reform goals over many years.
You know he didn’t hesitate when asked to include Ireland in the bi-partisan immigration reform package - a package which would have provided a dedicated legal path for the undocumented Irish.
He understands that this is a country of immigrants, so many of whom helped build America, and that those Undocumented today too, have so much to contribute to the future of this great nation.
Senator Durbin, I’m delighted be here to honour you this evening.
And what can I say of Tom Rooney - of the great Rooney clan who have done so much for Ireland and the United States.
Your resolute commitment and willingness to sustain our deep bonds and promote these goals in Congress cannot be underestimated. You have helped Ireland restore its international reputation and articulated support on so many occasions.
Thank you.
Conclusion
Next year is the centenary of the 1916 rising, and this afternoon I was delighted to launch the Celebrating a Century of Irish Arts and Culture festival, that will take place in the Kennedy Center in 2016.
I recommend you take a visit if you get a chance or indeed, come see the real thing next year.
As Ireland is celebrating a decade of commemorations, it will be a great opportunity to reflect how far we have come as a nation and to dream our best future.
As I leave you this evening, I leave you with a line from Yeats:
Think where man’s glory most begins and ends,
And say my glory was I had such friends.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.
ENDS