asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the role which the Federation of Irish Societies plays in the context of the available resources of the Irish Embassy in London.
Written Answers. - Federation of Irish Societies.
51.
The Government recognise that the Federation of Irish Societies is the largest and most representative Irish organisation in Britain. We fully appreciate the role that the federation played in furthering the interests of the Irish community in Britain. Successive Irish Governments have maintained close and constructive relations with the federation and this is reflected in the excellent relationship between the federation and our Embassy in London.
The Embassy and the federation are in regular contact on a range of issues; two members of the federation are on the Dion Committee which meets in the embassy and administers the £250,000 Irish Government grant to Irish welfare centres in Britain.