ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT, MARY ROBINSON, ON THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE INTL CREDIT UNION FORUM
ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT, MARY ROBINSON, ON THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE INTERNATIONAL CREDIT UNION FORUM ON 3 JULY, 1994.
I am very pleased to have been invited here today to perform the official opening of the International Credit Union Forum.
At the outset I would like to welcome all of the distinguished delegates, who have gathered here in Cork from all over the world to attend this prestigious forum. I hope that you will enjoy your stay in this most beautiful part of Ireland and that over the next few days you will have the opportunity to share your valued experiences and ideas for the future.
I am of course well aware of the tremendous impact that the Credit Union movement has had in Ireland over a relatively short period in encouraging self-help and mutual co-operation and in helping communities to make the best use of their resources. The voluntary nature of the movement is characteristic of the widespread spirit of self help that has infused community life throughout this island - the concept of the "Meitheal", where neighbours and friends work together to enhance their environment and provide many valuable facilities to improve their social, cultural and economic life.
Credit unions represent a most important and vital part of the co-operative movement. They serve to foster a spirit of self reliance and community support based on the guiding principle of the movement "NOT FOR PROFIT, NOT FOR CHARITY BUT FOR SERVICE". The impact of credit unions on social and economic life is evident from the fact that the Irish Credit Union Movement has over 1.2 million members in more than 500 branches. Worldwide, there are more than 80 million members in 42,000 branches throughout 85 countries.
I am especially pleased at the involvement of the World Council of Credit Unions in long term credit union growth in developing countries, and, indeed, I am delighted to see that the International Development Foundation, which was established by the Irish League of Credit Unions to raise funds for training and education in developing countries, will be honoured with the World Council of Credit Unions Distinguished Service Award later this week.
Your presence here at this World conference is a fulsome recognition of the strength of the development of the credit union co-operative movement here in Ireland. I am particularly pleased to note the achievement of "one of our own" - Gus Murray - in securing the high office of Presidency of the World Council. This is indeed a great honour not only for Mr. Murray, but for the credit union movement here, with whom Mr. Murray has been involved for many years, and for Ireland as a prominent nation within the world community of co-operative credit unions.
Within credit unions the emphasis is rightly on the individual, both as a productive member of society and as a valued colleague or neighbour. Whatever the economic circumstances of the individual, membership of a credit union will ensure a sympathetic and supportive response. But more importantly, each person's credit union consists of people who belong to the same community, who are intimately familiar with the circumstances in that community and who can identify closely with an individual's hopes and aspirations.
I congratulate all of you on your commitment to this most caring of movements, a movement that has transformed the economic fortunes of whole communities throughout the world. Credit unions are a source of hope and security for the millions of people that you represent and on their behalf I wish you every success in the proceedings of this forum and of the various workshops which you will be conducting.
I would like once again to welcome all of you and to wish you a successful Forum and an enjoyable stay here in Cork. It only remains for me to declare the 1994 International Credit Union Forum officially open.