DCU award honorary doctorate to former Mayo Taoiseach Enda Kenny
Dublin City University has conferred the award of Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) on former Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
It is the highest accolade that the university can bestow.
The special ceremony took place today in The Helix on DCU’s Glasnevin campus.
Speaking at the ceremony today, DCU President Professor Daire Keogh said: “As Taoiseach, Enda Kenny displayed steadfast leadership during a time of national economic crisis.
"Under his government, Ireland exited the bailout programme ahead of schedule and saw a strong economic rebound, while avoiding the social unrest seen in other European countries at that time.
"As a statesman, his keen diplomatic skills succeeded in gathering the strong support of our EU partners for Ireland’s position during the Brexit negotiations, notably gaining consensus that a hard border in Ireland would threaten peace.
"This stance had a lasting impact, protecting Irish interests well beyond his term.”
Enda Kenny came to politics very young following the untimely death of his father Henry, and was elected to the Dáil in a by-election aged 24.
He became Minister for Trade and Tourism in the Rainbow Government formed in 1994, and leader of the Fine Gael party (and the Opposition) in 2002.
The 2011 General Election saw Fine Gael become the largest party in the Dáil for the first time, forming a coalition government with Labour, and leading the country through a period of economic recovery which resulted in Ireland exiting the emergency funding programme more quickly than anyone had expected.
DCU Chancellor Brid Horan said: “We live in an era when politicians are too often derided, decried and attacked - online and in some cases physically.
"It takes bravery to be a politician. It takes guts to be a leader. So, rather than being cynical, we should applaud the contribution of democratically elected politicians to national life - especially when we see the rising tide of authoritarianism around the world, and what that leads to.”
In a citation delivered at the ceremony, Dr Eoin O’Malley, Associate Professor in Political Science at the School of Law and Government, stated: “Following the economic crash in late 2008, the bail out, austerity measures, and the subsequent collapse of Fianna Fáil support, power landed on Enda Kenny’s lap.
"But it was hardly a pleasant inheritance. With the economy on its knees and the country in a financial programme many of the constraints were being set externally, by the Troika.
“Yet as Taoiseach, he showed his other skills. He knew when to delegate to others with skills or expertise in areas he did not have.
"His appointment of Michael Noonan was inspired. Noonan was able to communicate complex financial ideas in a way that the public could understand.
"He took many of the decisions into a smaller room, the Economic Management Council, that avoided drama being played out at the cabinet table.
"He was able to manage cabinet better than most other Taoisigh, particularly ones who were governing under such tough financial constraints, often because he was open to listening to others’ ideas and thoughts.
"He also knew when to stand firm – protecting Ireland’s corporation tax rate when under pressure from Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy.
"Ireland emerged from the funding programme more quickly than anyone expected, hardly unscathed, but much recovered. At the end of his first term, the unemployment rate had been halved.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Enda Kenny stated: "I am privileged and honoured to receive and accept this Honorary Doctorate degree, Doctor of Philosophy , from DCU now the home of my Alma Mater, St. Patrick’s TC, Drumcondra.
"I do so in the name of all the pupils and students that were part of my school years in National school, in Secondary school and Teacher Training College and of my family.
"Given the situation that now exists globally Ireland should make no apologies for seeking out and inviting the very highest calibre of international student to come and join our own cohort in our own universities to go on and lead in research and innovation in the many areas of challenge that lie ahead.
"The Irish know education, the Irish understand education, the Irish feel education, and it’s one outstanding area where we can make a quantum leap to global leadership in the decades ahead.”
Enda Kenny joins noted figures from politics, sport, literature and industry in receiving this award from DCU, including Moya Brennan, Jim Gavin, Paula Meehan, President Bill Clinton, Joe Schmidt and Rosaleen Blair.