The Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has said the New Year will bring hope, possibility and confidence to Ireland as the country enters its presidency of the European Union.
Kenny said the presidency will bring hope and confidence to people of Ireland by delivering jobs, stability and economic growth.
He said “We all know too well here in Ireland the huge sacrifices the crisis has meant. The people of Europe and Ireland need to know and need to see there is progress being made. That there is a next step to recovery.”
The Irish leader was joined by the Deputy leader Eamon Gilmore and Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton at a special flag-raising ceremony at Dublin Castle, to mark the beginning of Ireland's six-month term.
Kenny insists that stronger relations with EU member states would lead to a brighter future for Ireland.
He said “The Irish presidency in 2013 will be about three crucial words: stability, jobs and growth.
"There are real actions to back up those three words. We will be in the business of solution, a recovery country, driving recovery in Europe."
The ceremony at Dublin Castle marked the beginning of Ireland’s seventh presidential term, honored the incoming European Year of Citizens and celebrates 40 years since Ireland entered the EU in 1973.
Kenny said “Let this presidency and the new year, this European year of the citizen, bring new hope, new possibility and new confidence to our peoples…And above all, may it find that, together, this family of Europeans, we are making a richer and more sustainable future for all our peoples.”
6 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.STEVENSTAR | Jan 03, 2013, 01:27 PM EST
THE ONLY THING I HOPE FOR IS THAT ENDA GOES BACK TO THE BOGS OF MAYO AND LETS GET ALL THESE OLD FELLAS OUT OF IRISH POLITICS AND GET SOME NEW YOUNGER BLOOD IN THERE BEFORE THEY TOTALLY DESTROY WHATS LEFT OF IRELAND WHO NOW BY THE WAY IS SO IN DEBT TO THE EU AND GERMANS THAT WE HAVE BECOME A WORLDWIDE JOKE
Will Hamilton | Jan 02, 2013, 03:30 PM EST
If you played the theme from the Muppet show along with a photo of the Irish government people would not be able to tell it from the real thing.
angrypaddy | Jan 02, 2013, 09:51 AM EST
"HOPE" never paid a for a household bill
darragh S | Jan 02, 2013, 02:35 AM EST
Turkish Serbian Polish Finnish Battle Group would be nice President. Send them to Armagh.
IrelandNorth | Jan 01, 2013, 01:35 PM EST
Returning from my daily constitutional to Phoenix Park today, I spied with my little eye a spanking new union jack flying from a flag pole outside Dubin City Coucil (DCC) offices on Essex/Wood Quay. First though we were back in the UK, but on rubbing my eyes, realised it's apropos our EU Presidency thingy. Noted with interest how the flag of the other EU countries were the other side of the EU flag, possibly connoting Ireland's the proximate relationship between the British and/or Irish Isles, and either or boths persuasive influence on the mainland administration. Must be one of the British union flags they spent €500 on last year for HM EIIRs "partnership of equals" visit, which they neglected to fly in the Irish capitol due to the Gardaí being on tenterhooks against a possible dissenting republican spectacular which never materialised. Better late than never, I suppose. And better flying than burning a neighbours flag, like those loyalist lads at Belfast City Hall in the Ulster provincial capitol, who hopefuly can muster a little reciprocity. After all, how facilitating can a nation be flying the flag of an insular neighbour, which retains an emblem pertaining to ones own.
Portia_O'Neill | Jan 01, 2013, 12:25 PM EST
No comment.