Jack Wall
Question:53 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to the United States and his discussions with Irish immigrant organisations there. [15011/00]
Written Answers. - Official Engagements.
I visited New York and Chicago during the period 2-5 May where I met representatives of the various Irish immigrant resource centres and other organisations to discuss how my Department could assist and support the centres in the provision of information, advice and assistance to Irish immigrants at ground level.
Given the dispersed nature of the Irish throughout America, the path to success obviously lies in working with organisations in the various areas and in that regard we have always appreciated the fact that organisations in the United States work so well together to co-ordinate the services to the highest standards. Clearly, information and advice for Irish immigrants in the States continue to be the key need, particularly at ground level.
As a means of addressing this need, I took the opportunity, during my visit, to launch theReturning to Ireland booklet and an information leaflet on the operation of the Ireland-USA Bilateral Agreement on Social Security which my Department put together for the purpose of pro viding essential information for people who have emigrated.
As the economy continues to thrive, there will be increasing demands for skilled workers. This presents good opportunities for Irish people working abroad to return to Ireland. From talking to people who have emigrated, I get the impression that almost every Irish emigrant leaves home with the clear intention of returning again in the future but it is probably true that their wish to return is also tempered by the availability of suitable employment back home – the opportunities for employment or self-employment are now there.
During my visit, I also took the opportunity to address the two-day annual general meeting of the Coalition of Irish Immigrant Centres in Chicago where I sought to develop contacts between my Department and a network of immigrant organisations to enable them to work together in the future to improve the flow of quality information.