Lenihan in historic Béal na mBláth address
Finance Minister Brian Lenihan this afternoon addressed crowds at the annual commemoration of the death of Michael Collins at Béal na mBláth in west Cork.
He is the first Fianna Fáil Minister to deliver a speech at what has been traditionally a Fine Gael event.
Speaking at Beal na mBláth this afternoon, Minister Lenihan praised what he described as the "generous and unexpected" invitation for him to address the ceremony.
He said while Fine Gael has of course been the political custodian of the memory of Michael Collins, the spirit of Collins is "the spirit of our nation, and it must continue to inspire all of us in public life, irrespective of party or tradition".
He said that if today's commemoration can be seen as a further public act of historical reconciliation between the two largest political parties in the State, at one of Irish history's sacred places, then he will be proud to have played his part.
Minister Lenihan added that he is convinced that the country has the ability to work through, and to overcome, its present financial difficulties.
He however admitted that the scale of the challenges the country faces are great, and he acknowledged that the economic crisis has been devastating on the lives of so many Irish citizens.
