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Hope, confidence and imagination are qualities that combine and stand
out in the Irish people. It was John F. Kennedy - an eminent member of
the Diaspora - who pointed this out in his address before the Irish Parliament,
on his visit to Ireland in 1963.
These same qualities could be perceived in an atmosphere full of proposals
and ideas at the recent Global Irish Economic Forum, held at Farmleigh,
Dublin, in September.
Ireland was badly stricken by the effects of the current global crisis
on its economy and, in particular, on its financial system. However, the
internal debate on how to sail into the future is characterised by the
abovementioned qualities. There is the awareness that only through a positive
agenda, willpower and innovation it will be possible to move ahead. Additionally,
this will require imagination to adapt to the new realities and to take
advantage of the opportunities offered by them, as long as they can be
identified. Many of us, the descendants of those Irish people who at one
point had to emigrate - sometimes under the most difficult circumstances
- and got scattered all over the world, recognise in such an assertive
attitude a trait that is inscribed within our genetic code, almost an
essential characteristic of our Irish roots and identity.
A central idea that emerged from the forum was to connect the millions
of Irish people living in Ireland and abroad. What for? To generate a
network for the mutual benefit that enables to profit from the wealth
of experiences and visions that can be contributed by those living in
such diverse environments. In the measure that they are able to articulate
their ties and their willingness to work together, the Irish living in
Ireland - with their strong links to Europe and the world; with their
capacity and their pride for having produced an economic success that
they are eager to renew; with their interest in a global community with
which they share blood, qualities and visions - and the Irish descendants
scattered around the world - with their diverse backgrounds, characterised
by a wonderful ability to adapt to different local circumstances and experiences;
with an out-breeding that has not weakened nor hindered their pride of
being Irish; with their relevant roles in the multiple political, business
and cultural sectors - may build a powerful force in an increasingly globalised
world which, at the same time, is eager to reconcile differences and blend
together the positive contributions of all.
From my perspective - and each one would have to evaluate his or her
own role in the network connecting the Irish Diaspora in the world - there
are at least three possible lines of action that might help link the Irish
descendants living in Argentina with those of the rest of the world and,
particularly, of Ireland. The first one is related to the connection of
the competitive intelligence resulting from the understanding of the respective
regional experiences - for example, that of Argentina in South America
and that of Ireland in Europe, in both cases opening up to the world and
the immense opportunities offered by economic and cultural globalisation.
The second course of action is related to the growing need to cater to
the world's demand for smart and green food, that is, with added intellectual
value and strong environmental quality criteria. On this regard the existing
potential between Argentina and Ireland is enormous. Finally, the third
line of action has to do with the opportunities resulting from the quality
of life and health demands of a population with an ever increasing life
expectancy. Shared undertakings based on the quality of the health and
medical services and on the demands originated by the relative ageing
of our populations is a possible area for joint work that could be developed
into concrete projects.
The Farmleigh meeting was the initial stepping stone for a valuable
idea with a strong projection into the future. We, the Irish descendants
living in Argentina, must now reflect together on how to play an active
role in the global Irish network and in what ways we can all capitalize
on it.
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