Newsletter of the Embassy of in Ireland

December 2010 - Ed. 02/10

Editorial

Happy Christmas, dear fellow Swiss citizens

When I look out of my window I see trees covered with snow, like at home. It’s freezing cold outside and one feels somehow “Christmassy” already, even though the calendar tells us that we are still in November. It’s time to enjoy home, to light a fire in the fireplace and to have a cup of tea.

At the same time Ireland, unlike Switzerland, goes through extremely Embassy of Switzerland in Dublin difficult times, and many of you feel this somehow. But, as history and experience shows crises make us stronger and some day the sun will shine again.

The Embassy closely follows the events and should you need help then talk to us. We cannot make miracles come true, but we may have some advice.

So let me wish you a relaxing and reinvigorating festive season and especially a New Year filled with hope and confidence.

Yours sincerely,

Beat Loeliger

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Miscellaneous

Two elections to the Federal Council

Simonetta Sommaruga and Johann Schneider-Ammann have been elected to the cabinet, giving modern-day Switzerland its first majority of women ministers. This election led to a major cabinet reshuffle. Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf who was in charge of Justice and Police takes over the Department of Finance. replaces her at her former position at the Department of Justice and Police. takes over the Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications and Johann Schneider-Ammann replaces her at the head of the Department of Economic Affairs. The photograph of the members of the new Federal Council (left) can be downloaded or ordered using the following link: www.admin.ch/br Picture: Swiss Confederation Left to right: , Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, Doris Leuthard, Micheline Calmy-Rey, Simonetta Sommaruga, , (Chancellor)

German and Swiss Book Prizes 2010

Melinda Nadj Abonji, a Swiss-Hungarian writer, came as a five year old girl to Switzerland. She learned German really fast at school and then studied at the University of Zürich. Her last novel “Tauben fliegen auf” was awarded the German book Prize 2010. She is the first Swiss author to obtain that prize. She also received the Swiss Book Prize 2010 for the same book.

Picture: Fredrik von Erichsen/dpa

Swiss Personality: Walter Haefner turns 100

Walter Haefner, owner of the AMAG car dealership and the largest shareholder of United States tech company CA, celebrated his 100th birthday on the 13th of September 2010. The Zurich-born entrepreneur started his success in CA, formerly Computer Associates, an IT software maker. In Switzerland, his AMAG company is the country’s largest importer of Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda and Audi. In 1948 he pulled off a coup when he signed a deal with Volkswagen, and imported the first “Beetle” (Käfer) to Switzerland. By the end of the year, the number had risen to 1’380. Haefner has now handed over the daily affairs of the companies but still visits the offices in Zurich regularly. In 1962, Walter Haefner, an amateur jockey rider, acquired a former dairy farm in County Kildare and Picture: AFP transformed it into a stud farm. The “Moyglare Stud Farm” was expanded in the following years and covers now an area of 182 hectares and is designed for around 100 horses. He also collects art and engages in charitable activities, particularly through a foundation that bears his name.

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Swiss enterprise wins the Progressive Automotive X-Prize

The Progressive Automotive X-PRIZE is the latest effort from the X-Prize Foundation which is trying to bring about radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. They do this by creating and managing prizes that drive innovators to solve some of the greatest challenges facing the world today. The E-Tracer vehicle of the Peraves AG enterprise in Winterthur won the X- Prize in the category “Alternative Tandem”. Here are some of the key advantages of the E-Tracer: it uses less power than the SBB/CFF to transport a person over a certain distance, it takes up little space on the road - namely about 3 square meters, it drives up to 300 km / h and can cover up to 300

Picture: Christian Beutler/NZZ kilometers on one single charge, it causes no engine noise, and for an average mileage of 10,000 miles per year it can gain its electricity needs with only 10 square meters of solar panels.

Swiss Culture Meets Ireland

Every year, a number of cultural events related to Switzerland take place in Ireland. This year, the Embassy supported, amongst others, the screening of Swiss films at the Guth Gafa International Documentary Film Festival and at the Corona Cork Film Festival, concerts of Sarah Büchi, of the Alphorn Academy as well as dance performances by the Cathy Sharp Dance Ensemble. Whenever we learn about a concert, a presentation or a sports event that involves Switzerland, we post the details for you on our online cultural calendar at www.eda.admin.ch/dublin.

Picture: Cathy Sharp Dance Ensemble

The Embassy at Your Service

Changes in the Team

Sahra Guggenheim Lovis has left Dublin for a new posting in Cairo. We take the opportunity to thank her for the work she did in Dublin and wish her all the best for the future. Her successor is Cornelia Manhart Mülchi (left), Vice-Consul, who arrived in June from Yaoundé (Cameroun). We wish Cornelia a lot of success and a good time in Dublin.

Céline Roth (right), Trainee, is the successor of Thomas Kocherhans who went

back to Switzerland in order to continue his studies.

The Embassy of Switzerland in Ireland regularly offers internships to Swiss university students for a period of three to four months.

Picture: Swiss Embassy in Ireland

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Consular Affairs

New internet platform for the Swiss abroad

You might be interested in the new platform for the Swiss abroad called “SwissCommunity”. The aim of “SwissCommunity” is to strengthen the link between the Swiss abroad and Switzerland. “SwissCommunity” is a free, high- quality platform exclusively serving the Swiss who have been, are, or will be resident abroad. It is a “club” for international Switzerland, designed and tailored to meet the needs of Swiss people worldwide. Join “SwissCommunity” and build up your contacts and links with the Swiss diaspora all over the world and with Switzerland itself. You will also enjoy an extensive catalogue of offers and services. “SwissCommunity” is just like you: unique! Picture: Switzerland Tourism “SwissCommunity” is a global network which keeps Swiss people all over the world in touch. www.swisscommunity.org

Statistics about the Swiss population in Ireland

By the end of October 2010 1’452 Swiss people were registered with the Embassy of Switzerland in Ireland. Among them 44% have only the Swiss nationality while 39% have both the Swiss and the Irish nationality. 17% are binationals (Swiss and another nationality but not Irish) or citizens of Liechtenstein. In fact Switzerland assumes since 1919 the consular matters in all countries in which Liechtenstein has no consular representation. We are happy to observe that these figures remain stable despite of the economic crisis.

Let’s meet!

On the 26th of November the Ambassador, Beat Loeliger, and the Consul, Bernardo Rutschi, went to Limerick to meet the compatriots of the counties of Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and Kerry. In the afternoon the participants had the possibility to ask questions regarding consular issues. In the evening a cocktail reception took place with an attendance of about 40 people. For us this was an excellent opportunity to meet with some of our fellow citizens, but also for them to meet each other. We plan to organise similar events in other places in the near future.

Picture: Swiss Embassy in Ireland

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Swiss Club in Ireland

Chantal Nash presents the Swiss Club in Ireland

Chantal Nash, the newly elected president of the Swiss Club, gives us an overview of the history and activity of the Club.

The Swiss Club in Ireland was founded in 1947. At that time communications were not what they are today; travelling took longer and was more expensive. It took real pioneer spirit to venture so far from home. Swiss families found a bit of home at club meetings, with the opportunity to exchange views and speak their own language, thus lessening the sense of isolation. From a small beginning, the Club has gone from strength to strength, with 70 members to date; some families with an Irish spouse, others having lived in Switzerland and wishing to stay connected to our country. The club has three main functions a year: a fondue in February, the 1st of August celebration and a Christmas party, as well as cultural, sporting or social functions in between. As long as there are Swiss people or fans of Switzerland living in Ireland, the Picture: Swiss Club Ireland club can look forward to a bright future. May it continue well into the next century!

More information under following website: www.swissclubireland.ie

Season’s Greetings

Time goes fast and the festive season is almost here. All the staff members of the Swiss Embassy in Dublin wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. We hope that tons of Swiss chocolate will help you withstand the cold winter weather.

Picture: Switzerland Tourism

Contact the Embassy Embassy of Switzerland Phone: 01 218 63 82 6 Ailesbury Road Fax: 01 283 03 44 Ballsbridge Dublin 4 E-mail: [email protected] Ireland Internet: www.eda.admin.ch/dublin

Please note: The Newsletter will only be published electronically and will be sent to your e-mail address. The Newsletter is also available on our website: www.eda.admin.ch/dublin