Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 27 Feb 1992

Vol. 416 No. 4

Written Answers. - Contact with Emigrants.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

40 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the extent to which his Department maintain contact with Irish emigrants in, (a) EC countries and (b) non-EC countries, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

While there is no requirement on Irish citizens to register at Irish diplomatic missions or consular offices, my Department maintain close contact with our emigrants through our missions in both EC and non-EC countries.

As regards present contacts, in so far as welfare issues are concerned, committees which are representative of the main emigrant groups have been set up under the auspices of the Irish Embassy in London and the Irish Consulates in New York, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco. These committees discuss the range of problems facing our emigrants, seek to identify and publicise solutions to these problems and prepare recommendations regarding the payment of the funds allocated by the Government to assist emigrant advice groups in the various areas.

In addition all our missions provide appropriate consular advice and assistance, including information about living and working conditions in their countries of accreditation, to all Irish citizens who request it.

Beyond this, of course, Irish diplomatic and consular missions abroad, both within the EC and elsewhere, maintain close and regular contact with various Irish societies and cultural and social groups in their respective areas.

I would envisage that the existing high level of contact will be further intensified as a result of the decision to allocate special responsibility for all emigrant issues falling within my Department's remit to the Minister of State, Deputy Daly. I am confident that this step will be widely welcomed and indeed I recall a proposal by Deputy Deasy in February 1989 that a Minister of State should be given special responsibility in this area. It would be our intention to draw up a programme of action addressing the various issues of concern to emigrants for implementation over the period ahead.