The recession may not have been an ''entirely bad'' thing for the Irish people, Archbishop Desmond Tutu has said. Speaking in Dublin last week on the effects of the recession on the Irish people, the South African cleric said: ''It also allows your natural instinct which may have been blunted somewhat by greed and riches to return, to get back to the real you and the real you is someone who will care.''
Archbishop Tutu praised the contribution of the Irish missionaries in South Africa, whom he said were partly responsible for creating a friendship between Ireland and South Africa.
He also paid a ''warm tribute'' to Irish people, whose support,was needed in the present as much as during the apartheid era.
He also cited the work of the Niall Mellon Trust charity and property developer Frank Gormley.
The archbishop was in Ireland promoting his charity, the St Patrick's Trust, which aims to twin Irish business and commercial knowledge with new businesses in South Africa.
He said the fact that Ireland was in a recession did not make this an inopportune time to seek help here.
''Your worst is still very good for us. When you look at...where you are in relation to where we are, you will see there is still a great deal that you will still be able to do.''
Archbishop Tutu repeated his controversial views on the affirmative action policy of black economic empowerment (BEE) which he said was benefiting only a small number.
''The concept is a good one where people have been disadvantaged in this fashion we have got to try to redress the balance. The fact of the matter is on the whole BEE has been restricted to a small group that has been recycled.''
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(Source: IC)