VISIT:FORMER US president Bill Clinton has said he has "utterly no doubt" that Ireland will recover from the economic crisis.
Speaking outside Government Buildings in Dublin after an hour-long meeting with Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Mr Clinton said Ireland was experiencing a horrible time but said the country would get out of the bind as long as people hung together and worked on the real problems.
He also said the abilities and talent that made Ireland the fastest-growing country in Europe would also help recover the economy.
“I have utterly no doubt that the country will come back and that you will come back a more diversified economy, less vulnerable to what has happened to you,” he said.
Mr Clinton struck an optimistic and upbeat note in his comments on Ireland and the economy, following his detailed discussions with Mr Cowen.
Speaking to reporters, he said the international financial crisis dealt Ireland a tough hand.
“Essentially what happened in Ireland is mirrored in US states like Nevada where you had really rapid growth and people decided the next five years would be like the last 10.
“And then when this international financial crisis started in the US – and I apologise for it – you had a lot of difficult decisions to make and you have been trying to make the ones that will bring back the country quickest, so you can resume growth.
“I say again, to save your financial system, you have to deal with the budget crisis, but I believe that if good choices are made, what made you the fastest growing country in Europe are still there, all the talents all the abilities all the incentive are still there,” he said.
Mr Clinton also expressed his appreciation for the help from Ireland for the Clinton Global Initiative, which administers Aids medicines to patients in the poorest countries in the world.
He said he was in awe that the Irish Government and non-government agencies continue to care for the dispossessed of the world while going through the economic crisis.
He said his initiative had started because of the support of the Irish and Canadian governments.
“Because of the people of Ireland today, in Mozambique, one tiny African country, the amount of people receiving medicine and staying alive has gone from 3,000 to 170,000. That’s one country where the Irish people have saved 167,000 lives,” he said.
“Against all the disappointment and the preoccupation that people have with the current financial crisis, it may be hard to credit that. That ought to make people feel good in this country,” he said.
Mr Cowen said they had had a very positive conversation and Mr Clinton had given good advice on conveying positive messages to the public on how to get through crises.
He said it had been great to hear Mr Clinton’s perspective on the wider economic issues.