Delivered at Spa Hotel, Lucan on 29 January, 2009
Good evening ladies and gentlemen,
I want to thank Minister Curran for his kind words of introduction.
I am honoured that both Minister Curran and Eoin Ryan MEP could be here this evening, and I would like to wish Eoin the best for his re-election to the European Parliament.
Tonight, I am proud to stand before you on this platform and officially launch my candidacy for the 2009 Local Elections. Over the coming months, I look forward to working closely with my running mates, Shane Moynihan and Edno Cooley.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all our dedicated Fianna Fail members, representatives of the ‘new’ irish communities and members of the press.
For many of you, I am a new face. For me, many of you are new faces. You are faces with whom I wish to form friendships, to foster understanding, and to work to build a better community.
I represent that changing face of Irish society; the face that has emerged from two decades of successful economic growth, higher educational attainment and the growing importance and interdependence of this great state in the world.
As an island nation, Ireland remained a homogenous society and culture for many years. Its success has shifted the demographics somewhat and Ireland has undergone a change of sorts. We have become a society that now plays host to persons and communities from every corner of the earth.
Ireland’s evolution into multiculturalism is in its infancy and, therefore, we have been gifted the chance to shape the development of our society. We have the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others and to craft a community that is, instead, integrated and all-inclusive.
I want to give you some background about me, where I am coming from, why I chose Fianna Fail and why I am running for election.
I am originally from Lahore, Pakistan. I moved to Germany in the late seventies where I met my wife, Elisabeth, a Drumcondra woman, and in 1981 I moved to Ireland. This country has been my home since then and I have been a proud citizen of this state since 1984.
My wife’s family had a strong political influence on me and I was successfully converted to the Fianna Fail creed about 4 and half months after my arrival to these shores. You might rightly ask what took them so long.
Despite being a loyal Fianna Fail voter since the 1980s it was not until the 2007 General election that I became fully submerged in the party. During that election campaign I worked with Tom Kitt on his re-election bid and developed many close friendships from that experience.
I now come before you to stand for election for the first time.
However, this is by no means my first brush with politics. As an advocate for integration in this country for the last 20 years I have worked with successive governments and various bodies on behalf of the Islamic community and have achieved many positive results.
Three key themes motivate my campaign:
Education, Integration, Representation.
Several years ago I came across a quote that I feel tells an essential truth.
‘The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.’
Today, we see our population in the Lucan ward expanding and with that expansion comes new challenges to meet the educational needs of a growing community. The ‘Educate Together’ Schools are currently looking to set-up a second-level school and I wish to express my full support for this project.
Much work has been done to improve our education system in recent years and, in these difficult economic times, we must ensure that our schools are funded and the very best education provided for our children. As a father of four, I would demand nothing less.
I promise to fight to keep our school system strong and to continually be looking for ways to improve the opportunities for our children.
I have always been a strong suporter of intergration. Over the years I have arranged visits to the Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh for Presidents Mary Robinson and McAleese, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, and Ministers Lenihan and Roche among others.
I am a representative of the Islamic Community to the annual National Day of Commemoration at Kilmainham Hospital.
One of the greatest areas in which I believe integration can occur and one with which I have personal experience is sport. Sport is fun, sport unifies, sport breaks down barriers between people. Athletes speak a common language, which everyone understands who is involved. It is important that people of different nations play sports together in clubs, schools and recreational teams, regardless of whether it is competitive or just for fun. This way strangers quickly become friends.
Integration of immigrants into and through sport, whether young or old, whether male or female, means: Bringing people from different cultural groups together.
I come from a strong sports background having played badminton at top levels in Germany and Ireland, while I played top level cricket for a number of Irish teams. This of course was back when I could touch my toes.
I believe it vital that we continue to invest in sports facilities for local clubs and schools in the area, which will not only serve to help integration but will also have positive health and social effects.
Of course, this is not the only area in which we need to promote integration and I will work hard to ensure that we address all opportunities to create an integrated an all inclusive society.
Last week we witnessed the historic election of a black man as president of the United States of America. Only a few years ago such a thought would seem impossible.
Our society too has changed and with that change comes the need for greater representation of all viewpoints. Today, it is estimated that approximately 10% of our population is now made up of members of immigrant communities. It is essential that these persons and communities be given a voice and representation and I will make it my mission to ensure that I will be representing all communities in the area.
Ireland led the way in women’s representation. Countess Markevicz was elected to the first Dail as the first woman ever elected in any democracy. Unfortunately, women’s representation in our country has not kept pace with its early development but the Irish party system has worked hard to represent all segments of society since the formation of the state.
I hope that Ireland can build a better future for all living in this country and that representation can be enhanced for all members of Irish society.
Our area has undergone significant changes in recent times and with those changes come new challenges – education, traffic congestion, crime, and public spaces to name a few. I will work with you to identify and successfully tackle the local issues that affect our lives. I am a person who believes in getting things done and together we will win positive results.
It is my firm intention to ensure that the very best public services are guaranteed for the area. Over the coming months I will be meeting with constituents from the area and look forward to discussing their concerns and ideas for the local area.
Working in business has taught me the value of achieving results and I promise that together we will achieve positive results that will enhance the quality of life for all residents.
I would ask you to take the time to remember my three key themes:
Education, Integration, Representation.
This will not be an easy election for us. But if we rally together and we work hard for each other then we will win this election.
Thank you for your patience and attention in listening to me this evening and if I could ask you to do one final thing:
When June comes around please remember: Vote Ahmed!
Thank you
Slan agus beannacht leat
Good evening ladies and gentlemen,
I want to thank Minister Curran for his kind words of introduction.
I am honoured that both Minister Curran and Eoin Ryan MEP could be here this evening, and I would like to wish Eoin the best for his re-election to the European Parliament.
Tonight, I am proud to stand before you on this platform and officially launch my candidacy for the 2009 Local Elections. Over the coming months, I look forward to working closely with my running mates, Shane Moynihan and Edno Cooley.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all our dedicated Fianna Fail members, representatives of the ‘new’ irish communities and members of the press.
For many of you, I am a new face. For me, many of you are new faces. You are faces with whom I wish to form friendships, to foster understanding, and to work to build a better community.
I represent that changing face of Irish society; the face that has emerged from two decades of successful economic growth, higher educational attainment and the growing importance and interdependence of this great state in the world.
As an island nation, Ireland remained a homogenous society and culture for many years. Its success has shifted the demographics somewhat and Ireland has undergone a change of sorts. We have become a society that now plays host to persons and communities from every corner of the earth.
Ireland’s evolution into multiculturalism is in its infancy and, therefore, we have been gifted the chance to shape the development of our society. We have the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others and to craft a community that is, instead, integrated and all-inclusive.
I want to give you some background about me, where I am coming from, why I chose Fianna Fail and why I am running for election.
I am originally from Lahore, Pakistan. I moved to Germany in the late seventies where I met my wife, Elisabeth, a Drumcondra woman, and in 1981 I moved to Ireland. This country has been my home since then and I have been a proud citizen of this state since 1984.
My wife’s family had a strong political influence on me and I was successfully converted to the Fianna Fail creed about 4 and half months after my arrival to these shores. You might rightly ask what took them so long.
Despite being a loyal Fianna Fail voter since the 1980s it was not until the 2007 General election that I became fully submerged in the party. During that election campaign I worked with Tom Kitt on his re-election bid and developed many close friendships from that experience.
I now come before you to stand for election for the first time.
However, this is by no means my first brush with politics. As an advocate for integration in this country for the last 20 years I have worked with successive governments and various bodies on behalf of the Islamic community and have achieved many positive results.
Three key themes motivate my campaign:
Education, Integration, Representation.
Several years ago I came across a quote that I feel tells an essential truth.
‘The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.’
Today, we see our population in the Lucan ward expanding and with that expansion comes new challenges to meet the educational needs of a growing community. The ‘Educate Together’ Schools are currently looking to set-up a second-level school and I wish to express my full support for this project.
Much work has been done to improve our education system in recent years and, in these difficult economic times, we must ensure that our schools are funded and the very best education provided for our children. As a father of four, I would demand nothing less.
I promise to fight to keep our school system strong and to continually be looking for ways to improve the opportunities for our children.
I have always been a strong suporter of intergration. Over the years I have arranged visits to the Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh for Presidents Mary Robinson and McAleese, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, and Ministers Lenihan and Roche among others.
I am a representative of the Islamic Community to the annual National Day of Commemoration at Kilmainham Hospital.
One of the greatest areas in which I believe integration can occur and one with which I have personal experience is sport. Sport is fun, sport unifies, sport breaks down barriers between people. Athletes speak a common language, which everyone understands who is involved. It is important that people of different nations play sports together in clubs, schools and recreational teams, regardless of whether it is competitive or just for fun. This way strangers quickly become friends.
Integration of immigrants into and through sport, whether young or old, whether male or female, means: Bringing people from different cultural groups together.
I come from a strong sports background having played badminton at top levels in Germany and Ireland, while I played top level cricket for a number of Irish teams. This of course was back when I could touch my toes.
I believe it vital that we continue to invest in sports facilities for local clubs and schools in the area, which will not only serve to help integration but will also have positive health and social effects.
Of course, this is not the only area in which we need to promote integration and I will work hard to ensure that we address all opportunities to create an integrated an all inclusive society.
Last week we witnessed the historic election of a black man as president of the United States of America. Only a few years ago such a thought would seem impossible.
Our society too has changed and with that change comes the need for greater representation of all viewpoints. Today, it is estimated that approximately 10% of our population is now made up of members of immigrant communities. It is essential that these persons and communities be given a voice and representation and I will make it my mission to ensure that I will be representing all communities in the area.
Ireland led the way in women’s representation. Countess Markevicz was elected to the first Dail as the first woman ever elected in any democracy. Unfortunately, women’s representation in our country has not kept pace with its early development but the Irish party system has worked hard to represent all segments of society since the formation of the state.
I hope that Ireland can build a better future for all living in this country and that representation can be enhanced for all members of Irish society.
Our area has undergone significant changes in recent times and with those changes come new challenges – education, traffic congestion, crime, and public spaces to name a few. I will work with you to identify and successfully tackle the local issues that affect our lives. I am a person who believes in getting things done and together we will win positive results.
It is my firm intention to ensure that the very best public services are guaranteed for the area. Over the coming months I will be meeting with constituents from the area and look forward to discussing their concerns and ideas for the local area.
Working in business has taught me the value of achieving results and I promise that together we will achieve positive results that will enhance the quality of life for all residents.
I would ask you to take the time to remember my three key themes:
Education, Integration, Representation.
This will not be an easy election for us. But if we rally together and we work hard for each other then we will win this election.
Thank you for your patience and attention in listening to me this evening and if I could ask you to do one final thing:
When June comes around please remember: Vote Ahmed!
Thank you
Slan agus beannacht leat
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