merrion street

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was this evening presented with the ‘European of the Year’ award by the German Magazine Publishers Association in Berlin.

Accepting the award the Taoiseach said:

For me in accepting this Golden Viktoria in the name of the Irish people it’s clear the words do not exist to describe their courage their dignity their generosity in how they have faced and are now facing-down such difficulties.

Be in no doubt it is because of them, and their outstanding qualities, that I bring good news to Berlin tonight.

Ireland is on the road to recovery.

We’ve honoured our EU-IMF commitments. Last year our economy started to grow again, our exports climbed to record-levels.

We’re bringing government spending under control. Internationally investors are showing new confidence in Ireland resulting in lower yields on Irish government bonds. We’re determined to exit the EU-IMF programme on schedule next year.

Speaking of the Government’s priorities for the future, the Taoiseach said:

Today we have two key priorities. Firstly, relieving a bank-debt burden equalling 40% of our GDP.

We welcome the June-commitment to break the destructive circle of banking/sovereign debt. We’re encouraged by the discussions to implement this commitment. We’re heartened by Chancellor Merkel’s recognising our unique circumstances, our special case, due to the weight of bank-related debt.

Our second priority? Tackling unemployment.

Our experience means we appreciate the urgent need to bring new hope to the 18-million members of our European family who are unemployed throughout the EU.

The Taoiseach concluded saying:

Finally, as Taoiseach and as a proud Irishman I’m ambitious not only for my country but for our Union.

I’m determined Ireland’s success-story will be Europe’s success-story. Our resurgence achieved with and through and for this united, generous European family.