DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL, ACCEPTING GIFT FROM IRELAND, PRAISES IRISH SPIRIT, GENEROSITY, COURAGE

Press Release
DSG/SM/118

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL, ACCEPTING GIFT FROM IRELAND, PRAISES IRISH SPIRIT, GENEROSITY, COURAGE

Following is the statement of Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchette at the presentation of a gift from Ireland to the United Nations in New York on 1 December:

With the unveiling of this sculpture, part of Ireland's history is being played out on the lawn of the United Nations. John Behan's "Arrival", a wonderful sculpture, tells us the chapter about the victory of the Irish spirit over pain and adversity. It also reminds us of the wonderful chapters that have been written since. It reminds us that the world has many reasons to give thanks to the nation and people of Ireland.

Taoiseach, you told the Millennium Summit in September that your country's history had placed a particular responsibility on its shoulders. One hundred and fifty years ago, you were a country ravaged by famine. When you joined the United Nations in 1955, you were poorer than most of your European neighbours. Today, you are one of the world's fastest growing economies. And your country's generosity is well known to many. No one knows it better than the United Nations.

Just as the Irish diaspora has enriched cultures in all corners of the earth, Ireland has given the United Nations men and women who have taken their humanitarian calling to all regions of the world. Ireland has given us peacekeepers who have set an example of commitment and courage, at the best of times and at the worst of times.

Ireland has given us Mary Robinson, whose passionate advocacy of "all human rights for all" is an inspiration to us all. Ireland has given us voices like Bono, whose powerful appeal for debt relief has been heard by audiences far and wide. Ireland has given us goodwill ambassadors like Seamus Heaney, who speaks so eloquently for the republic of conscience. He reminds us that when we are asked, who is our neighbour, we must answer, all of humanity.

Taoiseach, Ireland has more than lived up to the responsibility you spoke of at the Summit -- a Summit which pledged to halve, by the year 2015, the proportion of the world’s people who suffer from hunger. At a time when official development assistance (ODA) elsewhere is declining alarmingly, you pledged that Ireland would meet the United Nations target for ODA by the year 2007. And for this, we are very grateful.

- 2 - Press Release DSG/SM/118 1 December 2000

Just last week, Thanksgiving was celebrated here in the United States -- the country that became home to so many who fled the famine. What better time than this to remember those who suffered hunger a century and a half ago. What better time to rededicate ourselves to our pledge to eradicate hunger today. What better time to give thanks to Ireland. On behalf of the United Nations I say, go raibh maith agaibh, and I hope it sounds like “thank you”.

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