Síle Maguire at the Embassy of Ireland
Dear Friends,
We hope that you are all staying safe at this difficult time.
The message at home in Ireland and here in Spain is the same, social distancing slows the spread of COVID-19 and saves lives.
I attach below a copy of the statement that the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, issued yesterday. I know that his words resonate with all of us as we share sadness at the terrible loss of lives and we know, as the President says, that behind the statistics there are families grieving and people in distress because they cannot meet their loved ones.
In Ireland we have an expression Is ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine – we exist in each other’s shelter. Let’s continue to work together to stop the spread of this virus and to protect the more vulnerable amongst us. And let us keep in touch with each other, in particular those who may be feeling isolated or vulnerable at this time. Let’s be each other’s shelter.
The Embassy remains working but we are working in a different way, based on teleworking. Please don’t hesitate to contact us. You could email us with any enquiries and we will respond: madridembassy@dfa.ie. We are also monitoring closely our voice mail. If you would like to leave a message with your number, we will return your call. Our number is: +34 91 4364093
We look forward to seeing you all again on the other side of this. And in the meantime, please mind yourselves and those around you.
Le gach dea-ghuí – With best wishes – Un fuerte abrazo
Síle Maguire and all at the Embassy of Ireland
Statement from President Higgins
Following his consideration and signing of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020, President Michael D. Higgins has released the following statement:
“As we enter a crucial period in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, may I again express my sympathies to all those who have lost a family member or friend, and my best wishes to all those who have been infected by the virus, all those who have not had the opportunity to express their grief, or offer their care and visits to those they love.
May I express, on behalf of the people of Ireland, our shared sense of sadness at the increase in the number of our people who have died as a result of the pandemic.
Behind the statistics we will hear, or have read, that there are families grieving and people in distress because they cannot meet their loved ones.
As we muster our resolve to be far more vigilant as we enter a most difficult phase of tackling the virus, it is appropriate for me to express my thanks to the Irish people for their response to the crisis, and urge them to stay the course and encourage others to do so.
So many people are continuing to do their best to keep us safe and to keep the country going, through their efforts in the health service, in public service bodies, in important social services, in shops and in pharmacies. It is appropriate that we, as a nation, thank them for their service by doing our bit, by complying with the HSE advice.
Extraordinary and difficult measures have been necessary as we try to stem the tide of increasing infection. The effects of those measures will become visible in the coming weeks.
The legislation is emergency legislation for a time of crisis. It is appropriate that it has time limits and leaves our constitutional rights in place.
These are difficult times, but our difficulties will come to an end. Let us make sure that, through the decisions and actions we take at present, we ensure the health and safety of each other, all of us together.
Beir beannacht.”
