Official Opening of MDI House and National Resource Centre for Muscular Dystrophy & Allied Neuromuscular Condition by:
An Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny TD.
|
On Friday 15th February 2013, An Taoiseach Mr Enda Kenny opened the “MDI House & National Resource Centre for Muscular Dystrophy & Allied Neuromuscular Conditions” in Chapelizod, Dublin. Among others, The Taoiseach was joined by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Ms Frances Fitzgerald.
The Taoiseach arrived at 10.45am and was greeted by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI) Mr Joe Mooney and after brief formalities he spent a few minutes meeting with members, friends and associates of MDI who were gathered outside |
|
After a barrage of photographs and publicity shots the Taoiseach invited Eimer McElligott (a young MDI member from Offaly) to assist him with the symbolic cutting of a ribbon in the presence of those gathered to mark the official opening of the MDI House and National Resource Centre for Muscular Dystrophy and Allied Neuromuscular Conditions and was then escorted into the building where he was shown to the board room to for the formal addresses.
Once settled, the CEO, Mr Joe Mooney who chaired the proceedings, welcomed everyone and introduced the first speaker. Ms Elaine McDonnell, Chairperson of MDI. Elaine officially welcomed An Taoiseach and thanked him for taking time out from his busy scheduled to meet with us today. She informed him about the facilities which MDI provides at our new premises and about the services which she as a parent and her family receive from MDI. Before concluding, she remembered all members who have passed away and a moments silence was respected in their memory.
After thanking Elaine and re-iterating her key points, Joe then introduced Patrick Flanagan, a young member from Kerry, who shared his experiences of growing up as young person with muscular dystrophy. Patrick’s address was from the heart and was very entertaining, yet powerful. He demonstrated how his involvement with MDI, particularly with the MDI Youth and Respite Services, had assisted him in gaining confidence to develop as a person and referred to how important and enjoyable the MDI Youth Camps were to him as a young person growing up with muscular dystrophy. He also spoke about how MDI supports him now as a student studying in DCU and living in Dublin.
Again, Joe stressed the importance of the services which MDI provides and thanked Patrick for his contribution before introducing An Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny to address the meeting.
The Taoiseach’s opening remarks referred to facilities for people with disabilities where he said: “Nobody in politics would deny the right of people across a whole spectrum of disability challenges to have the opportunity to have the very best facilities made available for them.” He commended Patrick for what he was doing: going to college, studying and being able to inform people present about his daily life and how MDI had supported him, which enabled him to contribute to society and to the economy in general
He then went on to say that “The various legislative and policy measures including mainstreaming that have been put in place in the areas of equality, education, access to facilities, services and information are all very important.”
The Taoiseach summed up by saying that he was delighted to have been invited to MDI and concluded by wishing us every success and stating that in so far as he could help MDI that he’d be happy to do so.
Once settled, the CEO, Mr Joe Mooney who chaired the proceedings, welcomed everyone and introduced the first speaker. Ms Elaine McDonnell, Chairperson of MDI. Elaine officially welcomed An Taoiseach and thanked him for taking time out from his busy scheduled to meet with us today. She informed him about the facilities which MDI provides at our new premises and about the services which she as a parent and her family receive from MDI. Before concluding, she remembered all members who have passed away and a moments silence was respected in their memory.
After thanking Elaine and re-iterating her key points, Joe then introduced Patrick Flanagan, a young member from Kerry, who shared his experiences of growing up as young person with muscular dystrophy. Patrick’s address was from the heart and was very entertaining, yet powerful. He demonstrated how his involvement with MDI, particularly with the MDI Youth and Respite Services, had assisted him in gaining confidence to develop as a person and referred to how important and enjoyable the MDI Youth Camps were to him as a young person growing up with muscular dystrophy. He also spoke about how MDI supports him now as a student studying in DCU and living in Dublin.
Again, Joe stressed the importance of the services which MDI provides and thanked Patrick for his contribution before introducing An Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny to address the meeting.
The Taoiseach’s opening remarks referred to facilities for people with disabilities where he said: “Nobody in politics would deny the right of people across a whole spectrum of disability challenges to have the opportunity to have the very best facilities made available for them.” He commended Patrick for what he was doing: going to college, studying and being able to inform people present about his daily life and how MDI had supported him, which enabled him to contribute to society and to the economy in general
He then went on to say that “The various legislative and policy measures including mainstreaming that have been put in place in the areas of equality, education, access to facilities, services and information are all very important.”
The Taoiseach summed up by saying that he was delighted to have been invited to MDI and concluded by wishing us every success and stating that in so far as he could help MDI that he’d be happy to do so.
|
|
In response, MDI’s CEO Joe Mooney firstly acknowledged the Taoiseach’s remarks and thanked him for his kind words and he then informed him that irrespective of the economic conditions, people like himself and those present who have muscular dystrophy, will always have the same needs. “We still go to bed and get up in the morning”, he said “and we will still need assistance to do things. And this is something that needs to be protected,” he concluded.
|
The Taoiseach was then invited by Joe to unveil the plaque to mark the official opening of our premises and then both he and The Minister were presented with a small token of thanks by MDI member Aisling McElligott.
The CEO then introduced me Hubert McCormack to the group who was invited to bring the proceedings to a close in song! Before doing so, Hubert commented on his long time involvement with MDI and referred to the two people who joined the organisation with him back in 1980. One was Martin Naughton, who was present and Hubert shared a few memories about their friendship and involvement with MDI. The other person who Hubert referred to was Ursula Hagerty (who sadly passed away in 2006). By way of introducing his song which he wrote in 2006 in memory of Ursula, he spoke about the huge contribution which she had made to MDI over the years, having served at various posts (including National Council and Executive level) for over 20 years. He then sang his song, entitled “A Fighter and a Friend” and dedicated it not only to the memory of Ursula, but also to the memory of all members of MDI who have passed away.
The Taoiseach was then given a tour of the building and for nearly another hour he spent time meeting with members, friends and associates of MDI and demonstrated a strong interest in the work and facilities at MDI before departing almost two hours after his arrival. It was a very momentous and memorable day and one that will remain at the forefront of the archives of MDI.
The CEO then introduced me Hubert McCormack to the group who was invited to bring the proceedings to a close in song! Before doing so, Hubert commented on his long time involvement with MDI and referred to the two people who joined the organisation with him back in 1980. One was Martin Naughton, who was present and Hubert shared a few memories about their friendship and involvement with MDI. The other person who Hubert referred to was Ursula Hagerty (who sadly passed away in 2006). By way of introducing his song which he wrote in 2006 in memory of Ursula, he spoke about the huge contribution which she had made to MDI over the years, having served at various posts (including National Council and Executive level) for over 20 years. He then sang his song, entitled “A Fighter and a Friend” and dedicated it not only to the memory of Ursula, but also to the memory of all members of MDI who have passed away.
The Taoiseach was then given a tour of the building and for nearly another hour he spent time meeting with members, friends and associates of MDI and demonstrated a strong interest in the work and facilities at MDI before departing almost two hours after his arrival. It was a very momentous and memorable day and one that will remain at the forefront of the archives of MDI.
