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HILLARY CLINTON HAS been inducted into the Irish America Hall of Fame, for her contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process.
The former US Secretary of State and likely 2016 presidential candidate was honoured at a ceremony in New York, which was attended by many prominent Irish American and Irish people, including Gerry Adams.
Clinton, who of course wore emerald green, spoke briefly at the event.
AFP reports that some people questioned her appearance alongside Adams given recent abuse claims within the Republican movement and a New Yorker profile on his alleged connection with the IRA.
Clinton addressed Adams’ presence head-on, saying her husband Bill’s decision to grant the Sinn Féin leader a US Visa helped bring about peace in Northern Ireland.
“I remember very well when the request came back in 1993 that my husband approve a visa for Gerry Adams, who is with us today,” she said. “It was a very difficult decision.
“It seems like an obvious one in retrospect but at the time, much of our own government, certainly other governments, were against such a gesture.”"And I think it is true that absent that first step, that first risk, we might not have had the momentum to move forward to get to the Good Friday Accords,” Clinton said.
Clinton said she accepted the honour “on behalf of all the remarkable women that I met and admired in Northern Ireland”.
In her speech she spoke of her visits to Belfast and her work with Inez McCormack and Joyce McCartan.
You can’t have lasting peace and progress without people believing life will be better because of it.There has to be genuine economic and social inclusion. That’s true there and that’s true around the world.
Referring to her granddaughter, she called on people to provide better opportunities and peace for the next generation.
“When I look at Charlotte, who will be six months at the end of this month, I am reminded that she will have many, many opportunities,” she said.
“We will do whatever we can to give her the best education, the best understanding of values and how to treat others but I would like that for every child,” she said, to applause.
Good Friday Agreement
In a statement, Adams congratulated Clinton on the award.
He also took the opportunity to discuss the ongoing Stormont House talks.
“George Mitchell famously said after the Good Friday Agreement that that was the easy bit and the hard bit would be to get it implemented.
“He was right. There are important aspects of the Good Friday and subsequent agreements which have not yet been implemented. Sinn Féin is committed to the full implementation of all the agreements reached, including the Stormont House Agreement.
“That is our focus in the current negotiations. Sinn Féin believes it is important that agreements which seek to protect the disadvantaged and the most vulnerable in society must be implemented,” Adams stated.
Three other people were also inducted into the Hall of Fame yesterday:
With reporting from AFP
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The Labour party, always well meaning in opposition, talk the talk until the get in to government the wou6 make any right wing party proud .
How do I run for the election? I could do with a 6 figure salary and absolutely no consequences for telling lies or doing anything wrong in my job. #VoteMe
@TheMinisterForCraic: and expenses so you can buy lunch for your cronies without needing receipts!
@Tessa Madden: I’ll buy everyone who votes for me lunch. I’ll also promise you anything you want just for your vote. Then when I get in I’ll do whatever I want in terms of decisions, I’ll ignore all of the promises I said and I’ll fill my pockets as much as I can in this short time in charge because I couldn’t careless about the future of Ireland, the future of my own family is all I care about it. #VoteMe
@TheMinisterForCraic: not to mention a fat pension for life after the gravy train reaches the terminus.
Ivana Back? Is she new, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of her or of her having an opinion no one asked.
@This time its personable!: Poor Ivana. God love her. She should cop on and get a real job.
Jesus labour are the gift that keep on giving ha. Alan Kelly in charge and all of a sudden then thobk they have a conscience. Would make ya possibly get them your No.4 vote. Almost. God love her hasn’t a hope and either do FG on retaining the seat, with their voice of a generation ( with supreme Court parents and grandparents) candidate. Both really understand the working man
Another Has Been
@pat seery: you have to be someone to start with before you become a has been…
@pat seery: Very poor grammar. “Another was”.
@Paul Jude Redmond: A neverwasser
If people don’t get out and vote, nothing will change.
@Jules:
Vote for who?
@The Grand Nagus: whoever you choose, but vote. The generally low turnout of voters perpetuates the poor standard of government
@Jules: no it’s the candidates that perpetuates the poor stand of government!
@JongaFe: it’s both
Can’t stand listening to her, still trying to get into Government hopefully not a hope
Labour’s vision of Ireland became FGs version of Ireland when in government. Reduced to six seats , thats when they discovered the road to Damascus moment..
Just a question. Has Ivana won a “popular vote” election in the past?
Some people just can’t take no for an answer
Serial loser going to lose another election.
Another well heeled socialist.. Like Mickey D’s daughter, if you can’t win a real election take a handy number in the Senate spouting oh so progressive platitudes that mean nothing. Our political class are useless. Bacik offers nothing only soundbites for affluent liberals. Labour lost touch with working people a long time ago.
There hasn’t been a good leader of the Labour Party since Dick Spring, Ivana puts her name forward in every election that arises, seanad, council, presidentdency and now have another go at becoming a TD, which she has done enough time and not be elected, this by-election is in constituency where I live, personally I can’t see her been elected, certainly not by residents who live in the working class areas such as myself.
Zzzzzzzz
You have to hopes no hope and Bob hope
Absolutely useless person. Chocolate teapot springs to mind. Never forget labour cutting the ribbon on a soup kitchen.
Bacik has never been elected. That is not going to change.
As she takes a 70,000eur a year salary from taxpayers for her unelected position of senator, she can properly be regarded as a thief.
The Seanad is a stain on Irish democracy.
Bacik is too smart for her own good. Lacks personality. You would never win an arguement against her. Pity as she got bags of potential.
@Rob Jones: if she was that great she wouldn’t have failed to be elected in any of her 3 previous attempts at a Dail seat.
@Rob Jones: Being an excellent lawyer doesn’t make her a good public representative. She should stick to law and teaching. She has no chance. Labour is a dead party to the working class after IPhone-Joan.
@Paul Whitehead: “Labour is a dead party to the working class after IPhone-Joan.” Don’t forget Alan Kelly and Eamon ‘Labour’s way or Frankfort’s Way’ Gilmore. No way Labour…Just go away.
@Billy Big Baws: the comment about her name is uncalled for. It’s a Czech name i think
A health and welfare service from CABLE to the grave ??? So when does this service become available?
Bacik is head and shoulders in intellect above most Irish politicians which means of course she’s never elected. I’m amazed she’s never got in somewhere. I’d vote for her if I was in DB South. I don’t always agree with her but at least she has ideas
Whatever your views on the Labour Party Ivana Bacik is a good opreator with a long track record on social issues and would be a great addition to the Dáil. She does not deserve the negativity on show in these comments.
Any prospective candidate talking about house prices from this constituency smacks of hypocrisy.
@Billy Big Baws: Igno rant, rac ist lo ut.
She does know and remember labours vision changes when they get into government..what was it… labours way not frankfurts way
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