A former Irish President has claimed that Ireland will emerge ‘stronger than ever’ from the current economic crisis.

Mary Robinson made the remarks when she addressed journalism students at Galway University.

The Irish Independent reports on Robinson’s speech to the students when she revealed her belief that Ireland will bounce back.

She said: “I think Ireland has benefited from a very tough lesson. We recognise that this is the toughest time we’ve been through in modern Ireland.

“It’s hurting people terribly, but we will come through stronger and I hope we will come through fairer, with a real sense of what Ireland itself can achieve.”

Robinson also referred to the mass emigration now common across the country.

She added: “Ireland is going through another wave of emigration, something I feel the country could use to renew itself.

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“Modern emigration is different in that young people know that they want to come back and be more equipped for the modern Ireland.

“We need to be a country that these young people want to come back to and that’s the challenge for the rest of us.”

The former President also told her audience of her upset regarding the recent surge in youth suicides.
She said: “I find it very, very distressing that so many young people in Ireland don’t feel that sense of hope in themselves, that sense of potential.”

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