Ireland first ‘to wave goodbye to IMF’

IRELAND will be the first eurozone member to pay back its debt and “wave goodbye to the IMF”, according to the Taoiseach as he hailed a “new age” of confidence in the country.

Enda Kenny was speaking ahead of a visit today by former US president Bill Clinton to a conference in Dublin Castle aimed at tapping into the influence of the diaspora to help rebuild the economy.

Almost 300 delegates from the business, sporting and cultural world attended the second Global Irish Economic Forum, which continues today.

The Government promised “truth” and “accountability” for the Irish people on how the country got into the crisis.

Asked if a “truth commission” should be put in place, Tánaiste and Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore said this will happen if a referendum is passed later this month giving the Oireachtas more powers of inquiry.

Mr Kenny said the “spirit, creativity and ingenuity” of Irish people would ensure our “best days are ahead”.

Initiatives announced at yesterday’s event included:

*100 of Ireland’s top business people around the world will be asked to serve on state boards for free.

* A system of state recognition for people who make a “sustained and distinguished service to Ireland or Irish communities abroad” to be presented at a ceremony each year.

* www.worldirish.com — a social network to link Irish people or anyone around the world with an affinity for Ireland.

* A register of “international advocates” to advise the Government in areas of tourism, finance and foreign direct investment.

* “The Gathering 2013”, when Irish emigrants will be invited home for family or community reunions.

The Government received some criticism at yesterday’s event, with the chairman of Goldman Sachs, Peter Sutherland claiming the country had “deluded itself” about the standard of third-level education. He said the Coalition must “either spend the money or we’ll lose our best students”.

In a series of media interviews, the Taoiseach said the drop in yields on debt was a sign his Government is on the right track. “Of all the countries in difficulty, Ireland leads by example,” he said, adding that the nation is best positioned to be the first to “wave goodbye to the IMF”.

Bill Clinton will address the meeting on the topic Ireland and the Global Irish in the 21st Century.

Figures from cultural and sporting backgrounds are also on the guest list, including Paul McGuinness, the manager of U2, film maker Neil Jordan and GAA president Christy Cooney.