Speech on receiving an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland
Kildare Street, Dublin, 28th March 2014
Thank you for that warm welcome. I am delighted to be here tonight to accept this Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland.
Is maith is eol dom, agus an gradam seo á bhronnadh orm, go mbeidh mé i measc grúpa an-cháiliúil ó dhomhan an spóirt, an ghnó, na heolaíochta, na seirbhíse poiblí, na n-ealaíon agus ó réimsí go leor eile ina bhfuil a lorg domhain agus leithleach fágtha ag an oiread sin daoine éagsúla ar an tsochaí.
[I am aware that, in receiving this honour, I join a very illustrious group of recipients from the worlds of Sport, Business, Science, Public Service, the Arts and many other arenas where so many individuals have left their profound and unique imprint on society.]
I am honoured to be associated with an institution which has produced medical specialists, professors and researchers who are recognised world-wide. Your strong international presence of close to 10,000 Fellows, Members, Trainees and Licentiates in 82 countries, covering 26 medical specialties and interests speaks for itself.
Similarly, the inclusion under one roof of four faculties and two institutes will no doubt, ensure that you continue to fulfil your mission of improving the quality of patient care.
Your history is, of course, a long and eminent one stretching back to the mid 17th century, when this College was first established by Dr John Stearne. Your College was founded on great wisdom and vision, and those foundations have been built on over the recent centuries. The College has gained reputation and strength, retaining those qualities. They have enabled the College to continue through the many turbulences, eruptions and changes in our history since your foundation 360 years ago. Our story is one which has taken us through famine, oppression, two world wars and a long and bitter struggle for independence and has left us today, a multi-cultural nation, and confident members of a global community, with all the possibilities and obligations that this entails.
Medicine, of course, stands at that very critical juncture in today’s world where science and society meet. It occupies a unique and complex space that must respond to a constantly arising series of ethical questions and dilemmas. The increasingly rapid rate of scientific and technological progress, while of course to be greatly welcomed in many ways, has presented an already challenging field of expertise with more and more challenging questions requiring ever more multifaceted answers.
It is a challenge to which the Royal College of Physicians continues to rise admirably, supporting and steering your members as they continue to respond to an ever changing world. There can be no doubt that those working in the field of medicine continue to face radical change in many aspects of their working lives. You, more than anyone, understand the many ethical dilemmas and questions that arise as medicine, science and technology continue to progress at a rapid rate. You realise the many differing customs, values, tenets and beliefs that must be brought to bear as medical decisions and interventions take place in an increasingly multi-cultural society. And in an area where progress has led to more and more specialisation, you must continually strive to ensure that the holistic care of the patient remains at the very heart of medical practice.
There can be no doubt that the wealth of expertise in this room is deeply impressive. However, equally impressive is the great generosity of spirit and willingness to share your knowledge and expertise that accompanies us and that lies at the heart of the College of Physicians. This in so many ways defines this widely admired and esteemed institution. It is an ethos of which you can be very proud; just as I am honoured to become an Honorary Fellow of a College of such eminent standing.
Mar fhocal scoir, ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh libh go léir as fáilte a chur romham anseo inniu, agus ligint dom páirt a ghlacadh sa traidisiún breá lena n-ainmníonn sibh Uachtarán mar Chomhalta Onóra in bhur gColáiste Ríoga.
[In conclusion, I would like to thank you all once again for welcoming me here tonight, and allowing me to join your great tradition of Presidential Fellows.]
Go n-éirí go geal libh ‘s go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.