Discurso de bienvenida pronunciado por el profesor Francisco Orrego Vicuña en el acto de otorgamiento del grado de Doctor Honoris Causa a S.E. la Presidenta de la República de Irlanda, profesora Mary McAleese.

• Position: Transcripci

Universidad de Chile, Santiago, 22 de Marzo de 2004

The University of Chile is privileged to have today the visit of Her Excellency the President of the Republic of Ireland, Professor Mary McAleese, with occasion of her State visit to Chile and the Award of a Doctoral Degree Honoris Causa. It is a particular honour to welcome President McAleese not only in her capacity of Head of State but also in that of Professor of Law, to whom the works of academic life are no stranger.

Allow me to state at the outset that this University does not award Honorary Degrees for ceremonial purposes, but only as the recognition of a distinguished academic and intellectual career resulting in a contribution of significance to the world of learning. The achievements of Her Excellency as a Professor of Law at Trinity College, Dublin, and as the Director of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at the Queen's University of Belfast, together with the fact of having been the distinguished Pro Vice Chancellor of the latter university, are the background on which the University of Chile has based its decision to award this honorary degree.

A most successful participation of Her Excellency in a number of professional, business and social organizations has come to add to the recognition that this almost bicentennial university acknowledges on this occasion. The European and Irish bar associations, journalism and communications, welfare, Justice and Peace institutions and a number of other endeavours have also benefited from the dedication of Her Excellency along her career. The election of Her Excellency as the eighth President of the Republic of Ireland in 1997 would come as no surprise in the light of this history of achievements.

Born in the Ulster, Her Excellency is the first President of the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland. This in itself was a key factor pointing in the direction of what would become the essence of President McAleese's political leadership. The theme Her Excellency chose for her term in office is "Building Bridges", describing them as bridges that "demand patience, imagination and courage for Ireland's pace of change is now bewildering fast".

And Her Excellency has built bridges indeed. The concern of President McAleese for reconciliation in all corners of the Irish island, including Northern Ireland and the historical division between unionists and nationalists, has been a notorious feature of her office. In Her Excellency's...