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"Unemployment most pressing
problem" - President Higgins
15.09.14
UNEMPLOYMENT is the
most pressing challenge facing people in Inishowen
and the rest of Ireland, President Michael D.
Higgins said on his weekend visit to the peninsula.
He was speaking during a visit to The Exchange
social enterprise centre in Buncrana.
"As unemployment remains the most pressing challenge
to be addressed in Ireland today, in particular
long-term unemployment and youth unemployment, and
in particular in border areas, it is important that
communities can avail of schemes such as this one,
which not only generate new possibilities for local
economic activity by breaking the boundaries between
the economic, the social and the cultural, but also,
at the same time, create the conditions for all
members of the community, even those without a job,
to feel that they can fully participate in their
society," said Mr Higgins. |
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Children from St Brigid's N.S.,
Carndonagh, who were invited to form a guard of
honour for the visit of President Michael D.
Higgins. |
"All parts of society
and of the community can share in, and contribute
to, our economic renewal. As the Action Plan for
Jobs 2012 noted, there is a strong social enterprise
base in Ireland, which, if developed, could have
significant positive impact on job creation."
Mr Higgins also outlined some interesting statistics
in relation to Ireland's non profit and social
enterprise sector.
"Let us consider the numbers for a moment: the
non-profit sector in Ireland, in its broadest sense,
employs an estimated 100,000 people, generating an
income of over €6 billion. Within this, the social
enterprise sector employs between 25,000 and 33,000
people in over 1,400 social enterprises, with a
total income of around €1.4 billion," he added. |
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Children from St Brigid's N.S.,
Carndonagh, who were delighted to greet President
Michael D. Higgins after his arrival by helicopter
at the GAA pitch in Foden. |
The Irish President
enjoyed a very successful visit to several towns in
Inishowen enhanced with beautiful weather which saw
scores of people turn out to greet him.
During his two-day visit, he joined the Colgan Hall
100th anniversary celebrations in Carndonagh and
visited the newly-restored O'Doherty Castle in
Clonmany. He also presented the Tipp O'Neill
Disaspora Award in Buncrana. |
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