I know one of the questions no one would be undiplomatic enough to ask me is my
be undiplomatic enough to ask me is my
be undiplomatic enough to ask me is my age but if you did I tell you I’m old
age but if you did I tell you I’m old
age but if you did I tell you I’m old enough to have seen Ireland change
enough to have seen Ireland change
enough to have seen Ireland change change utterly and change utterly for
change utterly and change utterly for
change utterly and change utterly for the better I’m old enough to have been
the better I’m old enough to have been
the better I’m old enough to have been instrumental in some of that great
instrumental in some of that great
instrumental in some of that great change but here’s the kicker I’m young
change but here’s the kicker I’m young
change but here’s the kicker I’m young enough to be Ireland’s Deputy Prime
enough to be Ireland’s Deputy Prime
enough to be Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister tarnished and I’m young enough
Minister tarnished and I’m young enough
Minister tarnished and I’m young enough to be enthusiastic about my country as
to be enthusiastic about my country as
to be enthusiastic about my country as an international leader in inclusion
an international leader in inclusion
an international leader in inclusion peace and prosperity in this world I
grew up in an Ireland best summed up in
grew up in an Ireland best summed up in the title of a major novel of the time
the title of a major novel of the time
the title of a major novel of the time it was called the valley of the
it was called the valley of the
it was called the valley of the squinting windows great image is it not
squinting windows great image is it not
squinting windows great image is it not a valley where all the houses have a
a valley where all the houses have a
a valley where all the houses have a view of the other houses where everybody
view of the other houses where everybody
view of the other houses where everybody watches everybody else but not in a good
watches everybody else but not in a good
watches everybody else but not in a good way not in a good way because squinting
way not in a good way because squinting
way not in a good way because squinting windows only see what is narrow and what
windows only see what is narrow and what
windows only see what is narrow and what is nasty the booktitle might have
is nasty the booktitle might have
is nasty the booktitle might have described Ireland for a time after our
described Ireland for a time after our
described Ireland for a time after our war of independence we ruled ourselves
war of independence we ruled ourselves
war of independence we ruled ourselves yes but because we were still so
yes but because we were still so
yes but because we were still so economically dependent on our nearest
economically dependent on our nearest
economically dependent on our nearest neighbor it was government for survival
neighbor it was government for survival
neighbor it was government for survival not for success the nation for the most
not for success the nation for the most
not for success the nation for the most part with as a level of subsistence that
part with as a level of subsistence that
part with as a level of subsistence that today would be considered really dire
today would be considered really dire
today would be considered really dire poverty no electricity in many homes
poverty no electricity in many homes
poverty no electricity in many homes then no piped water no toilets inside
then no piped water no toilets inside
then no piped water no toilets inside the home education for money
the home education for money
the home education for money own only until the early teens many
own only until the early teens many
own only until the early teens many leaving school very very early and very
leaving school very very early and very
leaving school very very early and very poor job prospects a lot of immigration
poor job prospects a lot of immigration
poor job prospects a lot of immigration one religion very very dominant and a
one religion very very dominant and a
one religion very very dominant and a dominant to the extent that where a
dominant to the extent that where a
dominant to the extent that where a priest could announce from the altar the
priest could announce from the altar the
priest could announce from the altar the name of anybody in the area in the
name of anybody in the area in the
name of anybody in the area in the priests view who was behaving badly
priests view who was behaving badly
priests view who was behaving badly oh yes back then Ireland was a valley of
oh yes back then Ireland was a valley of
oh yes back then Ireland was a valley of the squinting windows those squinting
the squinting windows those squinting
the squinting windows those squinting windows looked harshly at everybody but
windows looked harshly at everybody but
windows looked harshly at everybody but they looked particularly harshly at
they looked particularly harshly at
they looked particularly harshly at women a young woman who became pregnant
women a young woman who became pregnant
women a young woman who became pregnant out of wedlock was very often ostracized
out of wedlock was very often ostracized
out of wedlock was very often ostracized by her own family often banished to a
by her own family often banished to a
by her own family often banished to a religious run institution a mother and
religious run institution a mother and
religious run institution a mother and baby home where her baby would be taken
baby home where her baby would be taken
baby home where her baby would be taken from her and adopted and no choice no
from her and adopted and no choice no
from her and adopted and no choice no life but her life spent griefing a life
life but her life spent griefing a life
life but her life spent griefing a life lived in the shadow of condemnation
lived in the shadow of condemnation
lived in the shadow of condemnation Ireland back then was more about control
Ireland back then was more about control
Ireland back then was more about control than inclusion and particularly control
than inclusion and particularly control
than inclusion and particularly control of women a woman working for the
of women a woman working for the
of women a woman working for the government in any job lost her job when
government in any job lost her job when
government in any job lost her job when she married it was the law until 1972
she married it was the law until 1972
she married it was the law until 1972 after I had finished in college getting
after I had finished in college getting
after I had finished in college getting married equalled to sit dismissal from
married equalled to sit dismissal from
married equalled to sit dismissal from the civil service why because of the man
the civil service why because of the man
the civil service why because of the man of the house was supposed to look after
of the house was supposed to look after
of the house was supposed to look after you to provide and therefore why would
you to provide and therefore why would
you to provide and therefore why would you need a job
you need a job
you need a job a woman’s property was owned by her
a woman’s property was owned by her
a woman’s property was owned by her husband even if he wanted a card to
husband even if he wanted a card to
husband even if he wanted a card to allow you to take out a library book he
allow you to take out a library book he
allow you to take out a library book he needed to be signed women didn’t really
needed to be signed women didn’t really
needed to be signed women didn’t really step out of line because you know they
step out of line because you know they
step out of line because you know they all lived in that folly of the squinting
all lived in that folly of the squinting
all lived in that folly of the squinting windows now of course there were lots of
windows now of course there were lots of
windows now of course there were lots of kindnesses too and compassion of the
kindnesses too and compassion of the
kindnesses too and compassion of the human spirit always prevails that was
human spirit always prevails that was
human spirit always prevails that was compassion
compassion
compassion my grandfather exemplified both he was
my grandfather exemplified both he was
my grandfather exemplified both he was the man in his local community a small
the man in his local community a small
the man in his local community a small town in the south of Ireland who provide
town in the south of Ireland who provide
town in the south of Ireland who provide it’s simple necessary services in a very
it’s simple necessary services in a very
it’s simple necessary services in a very quiet respectful way he would write
quiet respectful way he would write
quiet respectful way he would write letters and fill forms in the
letters and fill forms in the
letters and fill forms in the neighbourhood for people who wouldn’t
neighbourhood for people who wouldn’t
neighbourhood for people who wouldn’t have been fully literate
have been fully literate
have been fully literate my own father served in the Irish army
my own father served in the Irish army
my own father served in the Irish army he got his opportunity to go into the
he got his opportunity to go into the
he got his opportunity to go into the army he was also community voluntary
army he was also community voluntary
army he was also community voluntary worker and at the time had the polio
worker and at the time had the polio
worker and at the time had the polio epidemic of the 50s had come to a halt
epidemic of the 50s had come to a halt
epidemic of the 50s had come to a halt leaving devastation he has to go around
leaving devastation he has to go around
leaving devastation he has to go around to the families find out what they
to the families find out what they
to the families find out what they needed what services they needed and I
needed what services they needed and I
needed what services they needed and I would go with him it was the first time
would go with him it was the first time
would go with him it was the first time I really saw terribly poor conditions
I really saw terribly poor conditions
I really saw terribly poor conditions that people were living in there was
that people were living in there was
that people were living in there was terrible pride as well though and
terrible pride as well though and
terrible pride as well though and laughter always but that awful poverty
laughter always but that awful poverty
laughter always but that awful poverty and when I look back at the photographs
and when I look back at the photographs
and when I look back at the photographs of president john f kennedy’s visit to
of president john f kennedy’s visit to
of president john f kennedy’s visit to Ireland in 1963 it brings it all back
Ireland in 1963 it brings it all back
Ireland in 1963 it brings it all back the contrast between this confident
the contrast between this confident
the contrast between this confident laughing powerful man who was visiting
laughing powerful man who was visiting
laughing powerful man who was visiting us and the grayness of so many of the
us and the grayness of so many of the
us and the grayness of so many of the locations where he spent time and yet
locations where he spent time and yet
locations where he spent time and yet the Irish people were so proud of him so
the Irish people were so proud of him so
the Irish people were so proud of him so proud of this giant who had come to see
proud of this giant who had come to see
proud of this giant who had come to see them and what is most interesting about
them and what is most interesting about
them and what is most interesting about John of Kennedy’s words are how often he
John of Kennedy’s words are how often he
John of Kennedy’s words are how often he talked about poverty he didn’t grow up
talked about poverty he didn’t grow up
talked about poverty he didn’t grow up in poverty of course he didn’t quite the
in poverty of course he didn’t quite the
in poverty of course he didn’t quite the opposite but his family did carry an
opposite but his family did carry an
opposite but his family did carry an almost indelible memory of the Ireland
almost indelible memory of the Ireland
almost indelible memory of the Ireland they had left and to the Kennedy family
they had left and to the Kennedy family
they had left and to the Kennedy family and to his generation in Ireland him
and to his generation in Ireland him
and to his generation in Ireland him becoming president of America was a line
becoming president of America was a line
becoming president of America was a line in the sand a new empowerment a sense
in the sand a new empowerment a sense
in the sand a new empowerment a sense that if one of our own could get to the
that if one of our own could get to the
that if one of our own could get to the White House nothing was beyond us when I
White House nothing was beyond us when I
White House nothing was beyond us when I left school I qualified as a social
left school I qualified as a social
left school I qualified as a social worker I went to London and I spent
worker I went to London and I spent
worker I went to London and I spent seven years working there I learned to
seven years working there I learned to
seven years working there I learned to laugh during those years in London and
laugh during those years in London and
laugh during those years in London and not just because of his poster swinging
not just because of his poster swinging
not just because of his poster swinging 60 60s it wasn’t the valley of the
60 60s it wasn’t the valley of the
60 60s it wasn’t the valley of the squinting windows that’s for sure I came
squinting windows that’s for sure I came
squinting windows that’s for sure I came back to Ireland with a sense of infinite
back to Ireland with a sense of infinite
back to Ireland with a sense of infinite possibilities my eldest son had been
possibilities my eldest son had been
possibilities my eldest son had been born there I got involved in women’s
born there I got involved in women’s
born there I got involved in women’s rights women’s voices the maternity
rights women’s voices the maternity
rights women’s voices the maternity hospitals I felt that was really
hospitals I felt that was really
hospitals I felt that was really important but I came back to an Ireland
important but I came back to an Ireland
important but I came back to an Ireland where it was still illegal to be gay
where it was still illegal to be gay
where it was still illegal to be gay where the church control lives for
where the church control lives for
where the church control lives for contraception was available only on
contraception was available only on
contraception was available only on prescription I became chair of the
prescription I became chair of the
prescription I became chair of the National Women’s Council and ended up
National Women’s Council and ended up
National Women’s Council and ended up leading it and then I was asked to go
leading it and then I was asked to go
leading it and then I was asked to go into politics and I went in like a lot
into politics and I went in like a lot
into politics and I went in like a lot of people I got a lecture I got
of people I got a lecture I got
of people I got a lecture I got two fishes I got electus again I became
two fishes I got electus again I became
two fishes I got electus again I became Minister for children and then Minister
Minister for children and then Minister
Minister for children and then Minister for justice and equality and now
for justice and equality and now
for justice and equality and now Minister for business and enterprise and
Minister for business and enterprise and
Minister for business and enterprise and innovation as well as tarnished air
innovation as well as tarnished air
innovation as well as tarnished air Deputy Prime Minister wherever I went in
Deputy Prime Minister wherever I went in
Deputy Prime Minister wherever I went in government I carried something within me
government I carried something within me
government I carried something within me an unseen banner of one word inclusion
an unseen banner of one word inclusion
an unseen banner of one word inclusion the best definition of inclusion in my
the best definition of inclusion in my
the best definition of inclusion in my view is the one Franklin Roosevelt came
view is the one Franklin Roosevelt came
view is the one Franklin Roosevelt came up with the story goes that a
up with the story goes that a
up with the story goes that a speechwriter put a manuscript in front
speechwriter put a manuscript in front
speechwriter put a manuscript in front of him a manuscript of a speech the
of him a manuscript of a speech the
of him a manuscript of a speech the president was going to make and one of
president was going to make and one of
president was going to make and one of the lines in the speech was we must
the lines in the speech was we must
the lines in the speech was we must build an inclusive society and the story
build an inclusive society and the story
build an inclusive society and the story goes was a perfectly good statement FDR
goes was a perfectly good statement FDR
goes was a perfectly good statement FDR stopped looked at us and he hand wrote
stopped looked at us and he hand wrote
stopped looked at us and he hand wrote the replacement we must build a society
the replacement we must build a society
the replacement we must build a society where nobody feels left out and that’s
where nobody feels left out and that’s
where nobody feels left out and that’s the best in a definition of an inclusive
the best in a definition of an inclusive
the best in a definition of an inclusive society I’ve come across and the reality
society I’ve come across and the reality
society I’ve come across and the reality is that when I started in politics
is that when I started in politics
is that when I started in politics Ireland was very decidedly not a society
Ireland was very decidedly not a society
Ireland was very decidedly not a society where nobody felt left out many people
where nobody felt left out many people
where nobody felt left out many people felt left out as I said to you women
felt left out as I said to you women
felt left out as I said to you women felt left out well we began to change
felt left out well we began to change
felt left out well we began to change that change it utterly as I said at the
that change it utterly as I said at the
that change it utterly as I said at the beginning the old career restrictions
beginning the old career restrictions
beginning the old career restrictions went property restrictions went Ireland
went property restrictions went Ireland
went property restrictions went Ireland became a better place for women a place
became a better place for women a place
became a better place for women a place of possibility and pride a place where
of possibility and pride a place where
of possibility and pride a place where women could and did hold every similar
women could and did hold every similar
women could and did hold every similar senior position in our criminal justice
senior position in our criminal justice
senior position in our criminal justice system and a place where women could and
system and a place where women could and
system and a place where women could and have become president to women have done
have become president to women have done
have become president to women have done that so far one group who should have
that so far one group who should have
that so far one group who should have left out bush were too young to
left out bush were too young to
left out bush were too young to understand the concept
understand the concept
understand the concept Ireland’s children they were left out so
Ireland’s children they were left out so
Ireland’s children they were left out so we put the rights of children into the
we put the rights of children into the
we put the rights of children into the Constitution in back in 2012 when I was
Constitution in back in 2012 when I was
Constitution in back in 2012 when I was Minister for Children we passed all of
Minister for Children we passed all of
Minister for Children we passed all of us a children’s rights referendum so for
us a children’s rights referendum so for
us a children’s rights referendum so for the first time ever the state is now
the first time ever the state is now
the first time ever the state is now required to think of children as
required to think of children as
required to think of children as individuals not simply as members of a
individuals not simply as members of a
individuals not simply as members of a family but children’s rights as well as
family but children’s rights as well as
family but children’s rights as well as adults rights another group that fell
adults rights another group that fell
adults rights another group that fell if left out were LGTBQ I’d community a
if left out were LGTBQ I’d community a
if left out were LGTBQ I’d community a former female Minister for justice had
former female Minister for justice had
former female Minister for justice had abolished the laws that made being gay
abolished the laws that made being gay
abolished the laws that made being gay illegal but removing legal penalties
illegal but removing legal penalties
illegal but removing legal penalties does not an inclusive society make and
does not an inclusive society make and
does not an inclusive society make and most still felt that they lived in an
most still felt that they lived in an
most still felt that they lived in an Ireland of those squinting windows that
Ireland of those squinting windows that
Ireland of those squinting windows that I spoke about they felt equal only up to
I spoke about they felt equal only up to
I spoke about they felt equal only up to a point and that point was marriage they
a point and that point was marriage they
a point and that point was marriage they could have a civil partnership big deal
could have a civil partnership big deal
could have a civil partnership big deal most of them said that isn’t the same
most of them said that isn’t the same
most of them said that isn’t the same this is not an inclusive society if we
this is not an inclusive society if we
this is not an inclusive society if we feel left out of one of the key values
feel left out of one of the key values
feel left out of one of the key values of Irish society family family and
of Irish society family family and
of Irish society family family and marriage and that’s what happened on the
marriage and that’s what happened on the
marriage and that’s what happened on the 23rd have made 2015 but I want to tell
23rd have made 2015 but I want to tell
23rd have made 2015 but I want to tell you about two people coming up to that
you about two people coming up to that
you about two people coming up to that marriage equality referendum the general
marriage equality referendum the general
marriage equality referendum the general secretary of my political party is a
secretary of my political party is a
secretary of my political party is a former seminarian named Tom Curren he
former seminarian named Tom Curren he
former seminarian named Tom Curren he stepped way outside his comfort zone a
stepped way outside his comfort zone a
stepped way outside his comfort zone a regular mass going fairly quite
regular mass going fairly quite
regular mass going fairly quite self-effacing man but this quite
self-effacing man but this quite
self-effacing man but this quite traditionalist had a son he had a gay
traditionalist had a son he had a gay
traditionalist had a son he had a gay son and he stood up for his gay son in a
son and he stood up for his gay son in a
son and he stood up for his gay son in a video that went viral and encouraged
video that went viral and encouraged
video that went viral and encouraged others so many others of his age and
others so many others of his age and
others so many others of his age and generation to come out and vote YES for
generation to come out and vote YES for
generation to come out and vote YES for marriage equality then there was a woman
marriage equality then there was a woman
marriage equality then there was a woman a TV reporter called Ursula Halligan her
a TV reporter called Ursula Halligan her
a TV reporter called Ursula Halligan her household name familiar face but still a
household name familiar face but still a
household name familiar face but still a very private person and two weeks before
very private person and two weeks before
very private person and two weeks before we voted in the referendum
we voted in the referendum
we voted in the referendum she wrote a column for the Irish Times
she wrote a column for the Irish Times
she wrote a column for the Irish Times newspaper about her 50 years being in
newspaper about her 50 years being in
newspaper about her 50 years being in the prison the prison of being silently
the prison the prison of being silently
the prison the prison of being silently gay Tom Curren and Ursula Halligan leads
gay Tom Curren and Ursula Halligan leads
gay Tom Curren and Ursula Halligan leads their reputations on the line in the
their reputations on the line in the
their reputations on the line in the interests of inclusion and so did many
interests of inclusion and so did many
interests of inclusion and so did many others their courage led to a glorious
others their courage led to a glorious
others their courage led to a glorious day in recent Irish history May the 23rd
day in recent Irish history May the 23rd
day in recent Irish history May the 23rd 2015 on that day the Quadrangle in
2015 on that day the Quadrangle in
2015 on that day the Quadrangle in Dublin Castle was filled wall-to-wall
Dublin Castle was filled wall-to-wall
Dublin Castle was filled wall-to-wall with couples
with couples
with couples with their children with rainbow flags
with their children with rainbow flags
with their children with rainbow flags with happiness and with relief as we
with happiness and with relief as we
with happiness and with relief as we celebrated the passing of the equal
celebrated the passing of the equal
celebrated the passing of the equal marriage referendum all of Ireland young
marriage referendum all of Ireland young
marriage referendum all of Ireland young and old urban and rural had made a
and old urban and rural had made a
and old urban and rural had made a gesture of inclusivity and said you
gesture of inclusivity and said you
gesture of inclusivity and said you belong you have the same rights whether
belong you have the same rights whether
belong you have the same rights whether you’re straight or gay welcome to a new
you’re straight or gay welcome to a new
you’re straight or gay welcome to a new Ireland that has its arms out for you it
Ireland that has its arms out for you it
Ireland that has its arms out for you it felt like home every place that day felt
felt like home every place that day felt
felt like home every place that day felt like home as Minister for justice I was
like home as Minister for justice I was
like home as Minister for justice I was responsible for the legislation it was
responsible for the legislation it was
responsible for the legislation it was the best moment of my career Ireland was
the best moment of my career Ireland was
the best moment of my career Ireland was the first country in the world to
the first country in the world to
the first country in the world to introduce marriage equality by way of
introduce marriage equality by way of
introduce marriage equality by way of referendum of the people
it broke the squinting windows forever
it broke the squinting windows forever it told the world we in Ireland are
it told the world we in Ireland are
it told the world we in Ireland are building a society where nobody feels
building a society where nobody feels
building a society where nobody feels left out but we’re not done we’re not
left out but we’re not done we’re not
left out but we’re not done we’re not nearly done inclusivity is a task that
nearly done inclusivity is a task that
nearly done inclusivity is a task that never ends but never ceases to deliver
never ends but never ceases to deliver
never ends but never ceases to deliver emotionally personally socially
emotionally personally socially
emotionally personally socially culturally and economically the next
culturally and economically the next
culturally and economically the next step for Ireland indeed for so many
step for Ireland indeed for so many
step for Ireland indeed for so many countries around the world is to make
countries around the world is to make
countries around the world is to make sure that several groups of people don’t
sure that several groups of people don’t
sure that several groups of people don’t feel left out people like refugees and
feel left out people like refugees and
feel left out people like refugees and asylum seekers people like migrant
asylum seekers people like migrant
asylum seekers people like migrant workers who bring their skills and their
workers who bring their skills and their
workers who bring their skills and their hopes to our countries people like the
hopes to our countries people like the
hopes to our countries people like the elderly who so badly want to belong to a
elderly who so badly want to belong to a
elderly who so badly want to belong to a community not just being seen as a
community not just being seen as a
community not just being seen as a category I want to make sure that
category I want to make sure that
category I want to make sure that Ireland takes the next step for those
Ireland takes the next step for those
Ireland takes the next step for those with mental health issues for people
with mental health issues for people
with mental health issues for people with disability I want to make sure
with disability I want to make sure
with disability I want to make sure Arlen takes the next step because I
Arlen takes the next step because I
Arlen takes the next step because I still carry that unseen banner with the
still carry that unseen banner with the
still carry that unseen banner with the single word inclusion honest I always
single word inclusion honest I always
single word inclusion honest I always will thank you very much
will thank you very much
will thank you very much [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment