Business Lunch hosted by Enterprise Ireland, Melbourne

Business Lunch hosted by Enterprise Ireland

Speech By Michael D. Higgins President Of Ireland

Melbourne Cricket Ground

Thursday, 12th October, 2017

Is mór an pléisiúir dom a bheith anseo i Melbourne, agus tá áthas orm an deis a ghlacadh chun bualadh le hionadaithe ón lucht gnó, idir Éireannach agus Astrálach.

It is a great pleasure to be here in the beautiful city of Melbourne, and to have the opportunity to meet here with representatives of business, both Australian and Irish.

It is a particular treat to be at this famous venue. As you may know, Ireland applied to the International Cricket Council for Full Membership of the ICC and Test Status, and just last June, we were delighted to receive the news that our application was successful. Test cricket is the pinnacle of the sport and the Irish team are keen to play at the highest level of the game. Cricket Ireland and the many lovers of the sport in our country very much look forward to being back at this ground for a test match against Australia in the not-too-distant future.

This ground also has a special connection to Ireland and conjures up great memories for Irish people. On my way in today, I stopped at the statue outside of the late, great Jim Stynes, who graced the fields here for many years and played with such distinction for Melbourne. I also stopped at the Olympic Wall outside to note the name of our great Olympian, Ronnie Delaney, who won Ireland’s first ever gold medal in the 1500 meters at this stadium in 1956. Those of us old enough to remember that great day have vivid memories of huddling around “the wireless” in the middle of the night to listen to the Rex Alston’s radio commentary of Ronnie “eating up the ground” on his way to the gold medal.

Our host today is Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Government’s trade and technology agency, whose core mission is to work in partnership with its client companies, Irish-owned SMEs, to grow profitable sales, global exports and jobs in Ireland. Enterprise Ireland has been active in Australia for a number of years and which has been notably successful in bringing the extensive range of Ireland’s economic attractions to the attention of Australian business leaders in sectors from technology to agribusiness to healthcare to education.

Ireland is what has been called an “enterprise” economy. State agencies are continually assessing, promoting and assisting enterprise development with the full encouragement of Government. Export performance remains a key element of the Irish economy. During the recent economic contraction, Ireland, as an open economy, increased its exports by 40% and I would like to emphasise that it is Ireland’s export performance that continues to be responsible for our sustained economic growth. That growth is export related rather than being the consequence of any austerity programme imposed on us by the Troika.

As President of Ireland, I believe that the continuous sustaining and renewing of the ties that bind Ireland to

Australia is of ever greater importance. It is an old and enduring connection but now with new possibilities. These ties have been established over many years and have continued to develop in each succeeding generation.

Irish men and women have for generations come to this country seeking a new life. Some were sent, some chose to leave, some were forced by circumstance. Many left a life of hardship, unemployment and sometimes great suffering. Australia offered them opportunities denied to them in their home country.

But the story of Irish migration to Australia is also a story of new beginnings. The Irish story in this country is woven with tales of opportunity seized, innovation and re-invention; and above all, the importance given to education and to participation in public service and politics. It’s gratifying to see the descendants of Irish people now thriving in Australian life, many of whom are with us today.

Ours is a close relationship of kinship and friendship. It is one that both of our peoples dearly value and I know that it will continue to deepen as we now travel, more frequently than ever, between our two countries.

Of course, one of the reasons for this travel is the fact that there are so many successful Australian firms operating in Ireland, a number which is growing with each passing year. Our competitive economy, matched with our highly educated, multilingual workforce, has made Ireland a hub for international investment. We are pleased that many of Australia’s leading firms such as Macquarie bank, Resmed and SiteMinder have chosen Ireland for their international expansion. I welcome these developments and the worthwhile careers that these companies offer young Irish people.

Many new Irish firms are also establishing themselves or expanding in this part of the world. More and more Irish businesses have looked to Australia as a key export market and Enterprise Ireland is working to connect them to the many opportunities this country offers.

The Irish companies represented in the room today are testament to the strong and growing commercial relationship that Irish and Australian people have developed in recent times.

I met today with a wide spectrum of Irish companies working across many industries and sectors, from Australia Post’s use of Daon’s authentication software, to Combilift – Bunnings specialist forklift & straddle carrier manufacturer, which is making waves here with their specialised machinery to Vitrosoftware – Calvary Healthcare which captures complex patient data electronically.

You are representatives of modern Ireland, an Ireland that is dynamic, progressive and outward looking, an Ireland that is known the world over for its creativity and imagination, its flair for innovation, an Ireland that is culturally vibrant, tolerant and confident in its future.

Ireland today is a nation of entrepreneurship. Much like Australia, our economic success is driven by international trade. The spirit of innovation is very much part of modern Ireland’s economy and society. New start-ups have sprung up across a wide range of innovative technology sectors and are successfully competing internationally.

Innovation in industry is also powered by creativity, and both flourish in cultures and communities which value a rounded education, the importance of free-thinking and pluralist modes of teaching.

The capacity to imitate, which may exist in abundance is not as important as having the edge to create, and tradition and culture are sources of that creativity.

For the past two years Ireland has been Europe’s fastest growing economy, and this growth must be sustainable

and innovation-driven. We are committed to building on the foundations we have developed for a sustainable future through investment in the education and training of our young people, our most valuable national resource.

We have the largest proportion of young people in the European Union who are qualified graduates and also in terms of their qualifying and proceeding to postgraduate work.

In light of Britain’s decision to leave the EU, we recognise the importance of expanding and deepening our international trading relationships in the 21st century. Almost nine out of ten Irish companies plan to extend into new international markets over the next twelve months.

Ireland’s energy and determination mirrors Australia’s in many ways – our strengths align and are mutually reinforcing. We have a young and highly qualified population, the youngest in Europe, with 40% of our people under the age of 29. Our citizens have in common a strength for research, creativity and innovation and I very much look forward to the sharing of ideas and connections for the future that such a dynamic can generate. As new technology continues to disrupt many previous economic certainties, I’m confident that this generation of Irish people will rise to the challenge of this new global landscape.

In conclusion, may I thank you all for joining myself and Sabina here today and for your work in developing partnerships with Ireland, both present and future.

I congratulate the Irish companies present here on their continued success in Australia and look forward to the new relationships formed as a result of this this visit.

It is my sincerest hope that the relations between Australia and Ireland will deepen and strengthen in the years ahead.

Is é mo ghuí é go mbeidh fás agus forbairt ar an chaidreamh idir ár dhá thír amach anseo. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.