This article is from page 14 of the 2011-11-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
THE spirit of community is the key to Ireland’s future, the country’s new First Citizen told the nation as he reached out to every nook and cranny of the county during his inaugural address as the ninth President of Ireland.
Higgins, who was brought up in the small community of Ballycar in Newmarket-on-Fergus, pledged to be a president of the people, saying that communities around the country would be embraced by his presidency and Áras an Uachtaráin.
“I will champion creative communities who are bringing about positive change at local level by giving recognition to their achievements on the national stage,” President Higgins said.
“I believe that when we encourage the seedbed of creativity in our communities and ensure that each child and adult has the opportunity for creative expression, we also lay the groundwork for sustainable employment in creative industries and enrich our social, cultural and economic development.
“In promoting inclusion and creativity, I will be inviting all citizens, of all ages, to make their own imaginative and practical contribution to the shaping of our shared future.
“Active citizenship requires the will and the opportunity to participate at every level and in every way – to be the arrow; not the target,” he added.
Expanding on this theme on inclusiveness, President Higgins said during his seven-year term he will cast the presidential net far and wide by holding a number seminars with people from a variety of backgrounds and experience.
These seminars, he said, will “reflect and explore themes important to our shared life yet separate and wider than legislative demand, themes such as the restoration of trust in our institutions, the ethical connection between our economy and society, the future of a Europe built on peace, social solidarity and sustainability.
“The first of these seminars will focus on being young in Ireland. It will address issues of participation, education, employment, emigration and mental health. I hope also that the seminars during the next seven years might encompass consideration of global issues, stressing the importance of the ethical connection between politics, economy, development and society.
”We Irish are a creative, resourceful, talented and warm people, with a firm sense of common decency and justice. Let us address the next seven years with hope and courage as we work together to build the future for our country -an Ireland we all feel part of, an Ireland we all feel proud of,” he added.