It gives me great pleasure to welcome the Horizons Expo, an exciting new initiative designed to highlight opportunities in the civil society sector open to third-level students.

During these days of unprecedented economic prosperity, we must remember that a society like Ireland’s can only truly thrive when it has as its foundations, not only economic success but also a healthy civil society. Such a civil society is built on active citizenship, and it relies on people mobilizing their energy and goodwill for the good of the community, country and world around them. It is in this context that I welcome the opportunity to support a venture like the Horizons Expo.

The Horizons Expo presents an opportunity to harness such involvement, by providing access to the options for volunteering which are out there. Be it helping out with local action groups on a volunteer basis, engaging on an overseas exchange programme or working professionally within a civil society organization, the Expo hopes to showcase them all.

The Irish Government welcomes the efforts of the Washington-Ireland Program in this its tenth anniversary year. We commend the Washington-Ireland Program Alumni Network in helping to promote leadership, active citizenship and public service to young people on this island.

I look forward to seeing the Horizons Expo go from strength to strength.

Is mise le meas,

Bertie Ahern, T.D.
Taoiseach