REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF HER VISIT TO BREANNÁN ENTERPRISES
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF HER VISIT TO BREANNÁN ENTERPRISES, TRALEE, CO. KERRY ON TUESDAY 5TH MAY
It is a great pleasure for me to be in Monavalley today and to learn at first hand about the range of services being provided by the St. John of God Centre. The Hospitaller Order of St. John of God is as you know a worldwide organisation and has been providing special healthcare services for over 500 years. It has come a long way from its origins in Granada in the South of Spain but its impact here in the south west of Ireland has been most impressive.
When Kevin Ryan extended the invitation to me to come here today he spoke of a “relatively minor co-incidence”. This was a reference to my election theme of building bridges. Kevin spoke of your work here in building bridges and he kindly sent me a copy of your film of the same title.
Here at Breannán Enterprises you have taken the bridge building theme very seriously. I know that over the last number of years you have been building bridges for the people you serve. Your video shows just how much you have achieved in this regard.
I have been very impressed with the professional manner at which you have approached your task. Your annual report for 1997 should qualify for a Strategic Management Award. It has a mission statement which is concise, focused and is stated to be “to enrich the lives of those people who use our services by promoting and enabling their inclusion into the life of the community”. I am struck too by the statement of your philosophy and commitment. Your firm belief in the uniqueness of every person using your services is I believe the only basis on which an organisation such as this can operate. You have clearly recognised here in Breannán Enterprises that each person has both talent and needs and should be helped to make informed choices regarding his or her own future path in life.
Like all efficient organisations you are constantly reviewing the services you provide and renewing them and adapting them. I know that you have ambitious plans over the next few years. These include bringing the wider community into the Monavalley Centre and the extension of employment support service throughout Kerry.
I wish you well with the implementation of these plans and I compliment Kevin Ryan and all his staff for their commitment and dedication.
ENDS