Jerry Cowley
Question:58 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he has taken to implement the recommendations of the task force on emigration policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21669/02]
Ceisteanna – Questions (Resumed). Priority Questions. - Emigration Policy.
The task force on policy regarding emigrants was established last December on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness "to address the special needs of those Irish emigrants abroad who are particularly marginalised or at greatest risk of exclusion". The purpose of the task force was to develop a coherent, long-term approach to our emigrants and their needs.
The task force presented its report to me at the end of August. The report has been published by my Department. I take this opportunity to express my thanks and appreciation to the Chairman, Mr. Paddy O'Hanlon, and the other members of the task force for the energy and commitment they brought to their work. I was deeply saddened to learn of the recent death in New York of Monsignor James Murray who was a member of the task force and I offer his family and many friends my deep sympathies.
I welcome the report of the task force. It is a very comprehensive and forward looking document, which highlights the complex and varied issues affecting Irish people abroad. I share its view that we owe a great debt of gratitude to our emigrants and that we should acknowledge the enormous contributions they have made to the development of Ireland as well as the countries in which they settled.
The report makes clear that, while emigration has declined significantly in recent years, large numbers of people continue to leave this country every year, including those who emigrate involuntarily and without the necessary skills to cope with the challenges of living abroad. In addition, there are many people abroad, both Irish born and those of Irish descent, who wish to maintain and express their Irish identity and who look to their homeland for support in doing so.
At my request, the Government approved last month the establishment of an interdepartmental working group to examine the recommendations in the report with a view to preparing proposals for submission to the Government. The report contains many recommendations, some of which will require further consideration and development. The implementation of the report will be phased over a period of years. I hope that a start can be made in implementing the report, especially to help the most vulnerable and disadvantaged of our emigrants, both young and old.
I pay tribute to the voluntary agencies at home and abroad who provide assistance to emigrants and play an indispensable role in helping them, either before they leave or while they are abroad.
I thank the Minister for establishing the long-awaited task force and congratulate it on a job well done. Does the Minister agree that emigrants need our help? Emigrants' remittances amounted to more than anything we ever received from the EU. They must be paid back because the money kept areas in the west going and kept communities together and we should not forget that.
Does the Minister agree that the fundamental part of the task force report is that necessary resources, such as finance, be put in place? It recommends an annual budget of €18 million to be allocated for this purpose in 2003 rising to €34 million in 2005. Is this not richly deserved and is it not the repayment of an honourable debt owed in justice and not in any sense of charity? These fine people supported us and England as well. Is the Minister prepared to give a commitment in the upcoming budget and confirm that the Estimates will provide for these magnificent people as per the task force report?
As I have said to groups such as the Federation of Irish Societies whom I met last week, I gave free rein to the task force to come forward with whatever recommendations it wished. That was the understanding and agreement of its terms of reference. It was independent.
The interdepartmental committee will examine the report in the financial context in which the Government must operate. I have made it clear that this is a matter which must be dealt with in the financial context of all Government priorities. The task force examined the ideal situation and put forward the optimum position. It was entitled to do that and gave us an indication of the level to which we would have to go before we would be able to meet the type of service provision to which it believed emigrants are entitled.
I see the task force as providing a new policy context for emigrants, not just in the short-term but also in the medium to long-term, breaking down the stereotypical attitudes of the 1950s and 1960s to emigrants and recognising the modern realities. We hope to make a start but I must be straight and honest with the Deputy and say that it would be remiss of me if I were to suggest to him that all the recommendations in every detail and certainly in terms of the amounts stated would be implemented next year. That will not be the case given the financial context in which the Government has to operate.
I said to the task force when it made its presentation to me that its work will serve the Government and its successors in that we will use the new policy context as a means of rearranging our priorities and making a start on the comprehensive recommendations. There are many of them and emigrant communities throughout the world are included in the report.
The interdepartmental working group will consider the report and I established that body immediately. We must see what we can do to improve the co-ordination of the service so those with inadequate skills who are about to emigrate are given the opportunity through State agencies to prepare so they do not emigrate unprepared as people did in their droves for many generations. Many coped well but we know others did not. The Deputy has direct experience in this area and I commend him on the work he has done in his Mulranny project. I do not question his commitment and good faith in raising these issues. However, it would be remiss of me not to point out to him that full resourcing for the report from day one is not something which will be available to me.
We must first use the interdepartmental working group to see what recommendations we can deal with in the short-term and over time build a policy framework that will seek to address these issues in consultation with and the agreement of the many people at home and abroad who work in this area on a voluntary basis.