Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great honour to be here to participate in the opening of this wonderful new Peace Bridge.
Whether you call it Derry, Londonderry or Doire, this is a place much beloved by all who live here, and much admired by all who visit.
This bridge is a remarkable addition to what is already one of the most beautiful and historic cities in these islands.
It is remarkable not just as an example of beautiful design, but as a powerful symbol of movement away from a troubled past, towards a brighter future full of opportunity.
As this bridge sweeps across the river Foyle it draws not just our eyes but our hearts and our minds and reminds us of the journey of peace that we have all taken together over the last number of years.
The events in Belfast of recent days, and the despicable murder of Ronan Kerr in Omagh, show us all that we can never afford to take that peace for granted.
We must continue to work together to ensure that isolated evildoers do not succeed in undermining what has been so hard won.
Today, we are more united than ever in that historic task.
This is a truly proud day for Derry, a day when we all look firmly to the future.
In troubled and tragic times, this city demonstrated a real spirit, a drive to overcome adversity.
The advent of peace has unleashed that spirit to achieve wonderful progress.
Today is a huge and historic milestone on the path to a new future.
And I know there is so much more to come….
The opening of the Peace Bridge marks the completion of one of the largest projects that has been supported through the European Union’s PEACE Programme.
This Programme has played a major role in underpinning peace and reconciliation and I would like to thank the EU Commission and the Special EU Programmes Body for their work on this project, and for all of the valuable work that they do.
The Irish Government has been proud to make its own contribution to this project, as we are proud and determined to continue to contribute to the development of the wider North West region, including of course County Donegal.
The new Government that I lead will continue to work closely with our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Executive, with ILEX and with the local authorities on both sides of the border.
Through the implementation of the North West Gateway Initiative;
Through funding for road connections to the rest of the island, cancer services in Altnagelvin and world-class international broadband links via Project Kelvin;
Through closer links between our higher education institutions;
Through our ongoing work to promote reconciliation and to combat sectarianism;
And though our practical support for the City of Culture in 2013;
We stand with the people of Derry.
We will work together with you to make sure that this city and this region succeed in meeting their enormous potential.
Today is another great stride forward to that better future.
Derry. Be proud!