Official opening of the Education and Conference Centre, Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital and to Award the Eithne Walls Memorial Medal

I am delighted to be with you all today to officially open the new Education & Conference Centre here at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital.

The Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital is renowned nationally and internationally as a world class centre of excellence for ophthalmic and ear, nose and throat, head and neck diseases. It has also extensive research and academic links worldwide. This new centre will help to further strengthen the hospital’s position and reputation.

The primary aim of the centre is to provide a learning facility for use by the undergraduate and postgraduate medical and nursing staff. It will also be available for use by the paramedical and other hospital staff.

I would like to commend the Centenary Fundraising Committee for their hard work in raising €1.3 million for this remarkable new state of the art conference centre. I hope it can be used to bring health service providers together, enhancing the spread of research findings and enabling the coming together of those who can put scientific evidence into practice.

I would also like to thank all those who have generously contributed to the fundraising campaign and who have made this project a reality. It is truly a credit to the dedication and vision of all parties involved.

The main function of the Research Foundation is to fund research projects which promote the understanding of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. The Foundation also funds research fellows in work which links the Research Foundation with outside colleges.

This collaborative process has resulted in many important genetic discoveries. These vital programmes undertaken by the hospital ultimately provide the knowledge which will lead to better outcomes for patients.

Today, I am truly honoured to present the Eithne Walls Memorial Medal. Eithne was a young doctor who started her career here in the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital. Eithne’s lifelong aim was to become an Eye Surgeon. She was also a dancer and toured with Riverdance. She was a gifted, vibrant and special person and her loss has had a profound impact on all who were privileged to know her.

We are joined here today by Raymond and Mary Walls, Eithne’s Mam and Dad and by her sister, Catherine, who I know are so proud of her and the legacy she has left at this hospital.

The Eithne Walls Fund was set up by her family and the Research Foundation. This is a fitting memorial to her work. The fund is used to support research projects into new developments in ophthalmology, leading to further benefits for patients.

In continuing to keep Eithne’s memory alive I now wish to award The Eithne Walls Memorial Medal to Dr. Mei Chuen Tay in recognition of the best research work produced by a young Ophthalmologist in training at the Hospital.

Occasions like this provide me with the very welcome opportunity to acknowledge the work being undertaken by all of the management and staff at the hospital. I wish you continued success with your work. In particular I wish to applaud the hospital’s directional strategies outlined in its very noble mission statement.

Finally my warmest congratulations go to Dr. Mei Chuen Tay on this very special occasion.

I thank you all very much.