You are very welcome indeed to this commemoration service on the 80th Anniversary of the death of my grand uncle Michael Collins..

It is my happy task to thank Mr Mark Durkan, Leader of the SDLP, for his excellent and thought-provoking oration here today.

In the early years of this new century, we are faced with a series of challenges concerning the type of society which we wish to live in. My generation, the third since the founding of the State, will have a major influence on the society that we pass on to the next

The Memorial to Michael Collins at Beal na Blath 2002

The greatest achievement of the two previous generations, that which founded the state and that which consolidated and built on their work, was the establishment and maintenance of a thriving democratic system. This was achieved during a period when democracy was under pressure in all parts of the world. I am not just referring to the rise of Fascism in the 1930s. Greece and Portugal only returned to democracy in 1974 and Spain in 1975.

We are all well aware that democracy is still under pressure today. Many of the post-colonial systems that began as democracies were not able to sustain them. In other States, society buckled under pressures whether they were caused by ethnic differences, economic set backs or environmental deterioration. On the plus side, many countries in Middle and Eastern Europe have returned to democratic systems and we look forward to welcoming some of them into the European Union shortly.

A Section of the large attendance at Beal na Blath 25th. Aug 2002

Ireland cannot isolate itself from these developments. In one sense, the State was founded on the principle that it could. Remember Michael Collins was elected to the Dail to represent Sinn Fein — “Ourselves Alone”. These policies failed in the 1930’s — a fact that was recognised by Sean Lemass long before he became Taoiseach and commenced the process of recasting our trading strategy in the late 1950s. It was implicitly recognised twenty five years earlier by Ireland’s enthusiastic participation in the League of Nations.

Today’s global village and our membership of the European Union place a responsibility upon us to participate on the world stage as a defender and advocate of democracy.

Yet paradoxically, democracy is under some pressure in Ireland at present. One symptom is the decreasing voter turnout for Oireachteas and local elections. Even more paradoxically, it appears that our recent prosperity may contribute to this apathy. People may not vote because they wish to protest or because they do not care for the choices on offer. However, by not voting, they simply endorse the final result!!

The rights of individuals are the pillars of democracy. These rights were hard won over centuries. It is imperative that they are respected.

All political parties that operate within a democratic system must support these rights. Political parties that operate within this framework can appear staid, particularly to younger voters. There is a tendency today to seek short cut solutions to issues. These short cut solutions can compromise peoples rights. This is a shortsighted and potentially dangerous approach.

As Peter Sutherland said at the Centenary Celebrations of Michael Collins’ birth in 1990:

"issues are rarely black and white and those who fail to respect the integrity of different points of view endanger our democratic society and even cost the lives of Irish men, women and children.”

I cannot claim that we live in a perfect society I would not even claim that we live in an equitable society. There are too many disparities in access to services — education, health, justice. As I have said at this venue before, we have many challenges facing us —

- an unambivalent approach to Northern Ireland
- honest Government
- the growing divide between rich and poor
- a loss of spirituality and a devotion to materialism
- an effective response to violent crime without the loss of human rights
- the enormous problem of sexual abuse
- the recognition of the wrongs done to very many children in our institutions

In trying to overcome these challenges, we must not compromise our democratic standards; we must confront those political parties and politicians that would try to undermine our hard won democratic rights; we must support those political parties and politicians that respects those rights and place them at the centre of the societies they wish to form in the future.

In this respect, I would ask you to salute the SDLP who have not compromised these principles over thirty difficult years in Northern Ireland. In times of conflict and instability, seeking an honourable settlement is always a difficult and frequently thankless task. I would ask you to contrast their record with that of others and look, for instance, at the culture of punishments attacks for anti-social behaviour that blights certain sections of society in Northern Ireland and is tending to appear in this State also.

People cannot be ambivalent about this issue. Our quality of life will depend on the maintenance of these rights. We must confront those that would seek to subvert them. We must ensure that the language used is clear and unambiguous. We must be vigilant that actions match words - that "people walk the walk as well as talk the talk".

The Michael Collins Statue unveiled by Liam Neeson 22nd. Aug. 2002
in Clonakilty town Square, Co. Cork

Michael Collins led by example. We must do the same. He lost his life in leading by example, in trying to find a solution to a conflict and in trying to ensure democracy prevailed. Many others did too. That democracy did prevail is a tribute to "wise heads" on all sides in the Civil War.

My late father, Liam Collins, worked in every way he could for reconciliation. His involvement n the restoration of "Woodfield", birthplace of Michael Collins, for the Centenary Celebrtions of his birth in 1990 represented a landmark gathering of people who were a practical demonstration of the fruits of this democratic process.

We must re-engage with democracy. To do this we must also re-engage with politics. If politics is in an amount of disrepute now, that is partly because we left it to others. We must not let people make our decisions for us by refusing to vote. The recent French Presidential election is a timely reminder of the dangers in this approach.