DIFFICULT DAYS lie ahead due to past mistakes. In spite of that, now is the time to shake off the gloom that has settled like a fine mist over the countryside and to work towards a brighter and happier future. What better time to celebrate and promote our potential than on St Patrick’s Day when far-flung relatives pay tribute to their forebears and are willing to participate in a common cause. Rebuilding Ireland can be a productive and satisfying experience for all.
In the past, ministerial travel in connection with St Patrick’s Day celebrations was criticised, sometimes by opposition parties. On occasion, such criticism was warranted. But in the vast majority of cases, important connections were made or renewed with the Irish diaspora and with foreign industrial and political leaders. No other country in the world has such a platform from which it can promote its people, its tourism and its attractions as a manufacturing, research and financial base. Not to avail of such unique – and free – opportunities would amount to gross political and economic negligence.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny will meet President Barack Obama at the White House for what has become an annual presentation of shamrock. He will then be entertained by senior politicians on Capitol Hill. Such high-level access is deeply envied by much larger countries. But we have become blasé about these contacts and about the way they help to open the doors of large corporations and financial institutions to Irish interests and facilitate inward investment. We should count our blessings and find new ways to exploit such advantages.
This year, nine Cabinet members will travel abroad to fly the Irish flag and to sell the country on many levels. All 15 Ministers of State will stay at home. Mr Kenny explained that travel was being restricted to a small number of destinations that were top priorities for trade, business and jobs. Programmes would be shorter and more focused than in previous years in order to ensure value for money.
Such caution involving the public purse is welcome, in view of past, free-spending attitudes. But, in spite of possible criticism, care should be taken to ensure that useful opportunities to promote Ireland at these events are not missed. Rather than shrink high-profile ministerial attendances as a means of saving money, the number of travelling county and city councillors might be reduced.
Promoting Ireland as a tourist and investment destination has become an important element in the packaging of St Patrick’s Day. That is all to the good.
But how we celebrate the event here at home and what it says about us, our hopes and aspirations, also matters this year. From a five-day, bells-and-whistles festival in Dublin to the smallest rural celebration, we should participate fully in these events and welcome visitors to share our love of life. As the Taoiseach said in his Dáil acceptance speech... it is time to hang out our brightest colours.