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Irish Communities Abroad

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2014

Tuesday, 18 February 2014

Questions (156)

Micheál Martin

Question:

156. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his Department's actions on the Irish diaspora; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2219/14]

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Written answers

Engagement with the Diaspora has long been a feature of my Department's work, promoting Ireland overseas and, very importantly, in the context of efforts, over many years, to bring a lasting peace to this island.

The Irish Abroad Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was established, in 2004, to meet the objectives set out in the Task Force Report: to 'protect and support' the Irish Abroad. The Irish Abroad Unit (IAU) manages a range of engagement between the Irish Government and the Diaspora; including support and recognition for Irish overseas in the form of the Emigrant Support Programme, the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards for the Irish Abroad, and structured engagement with the Diaspora geared towards economic development, through the Global Irish Network and the Global Irish Economic Forum. The Unit also manages the Centenarians Bounty for Irish citizens not resident in the State, on behalf of Áras an Uachtaráin, and has responsibility for the Certificate of Irish Heritage, which is administered by an outside company.

Emigrant Support Programme

The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. The key objectives of the ESP are to support projects and initiatives that address the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable Irish emigrants; enhance access for Irish emigrants and Irish community organisations to local statutory and voluntary services; foster a more vibrant sense of community and Irish identity amongst the Irish abroad; and encourage closer links between Irish communities abroad and Ireland, to the benefit of both. Since 2009, the Programme also supports projects aimed at creating practical results orientated links between Ireland and the global Irish, and projects that emerged as a consequence of the Global Irish Economic Forum and its follow up. The Emigrant Support Programme allocation for 2014 stands at €11.595m.

Organisations in Britain and the United States receive the largest amounts of funding but recent years have seen a new wave of emigration from Ireland. Many are heading to traditional centres of emigration but others are heading to new locations, building new communities, for example, in Western Australia, Western Canada and the UAE. The Emigrant Support Programme supports organizations in these new locations to assist these new emigrants with the challenges they face on arrival in these countries

Global Irish Network/Global Irish Economic Forum

In early 2010 the Global Irish Network was launched and currently comprises more than 350 senior Irish and Irish connected business people based in some 40 countries. Network members come from a diversity of disciplines. They have demonstrated a strong connection to Ireland and have a record of high achievement in international business or in assisting in the promotion of Ireland. They provide Ireland with an invaluable resource of international expertise from which we can draw as we work towards continued economic recovery.

To date, there have been three meetings of the Global Irish Economic Forum, in 2009, 2011 and, most recently in 2013. Over these successive meetings, there have been changes in how they are conducted. For example, in 2013, mentoring sessions were held to bring Enterprise Ireland clients together with Network members. In addition, meetings were held outside Dublin for the first time, with meetings in Cork, Galway and Belfast.

Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad

The Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad was established in 2012. The Award provides recognition by the Irish State for persons living abroad, primarily Irish citizens, those entitled to Irish citizenship and those of Irish descent, who have given sustained and distinguished service to Ireland and/or Irish communities abroad. A High Level Panel based in Ireland considers all nominations received from abroad and makes recommendations to the Government and the Irish Abroad Unit administers the awards process.

Certificate of Irish Heritage

The Certificate of Irish Heritage was introduced in 2011 to recognise descendents of previous generations of Irish citizens in an official way and give greater practical expression to the sense of Irish identity felt by many around the world. The Certificate is administered on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade by FEXCO, based in Killorglin, Co. Kerry.

Review of Diaspora Policy

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will this year carry out a comprehensive review of our Diaspora Policy to examine all elements of our engagement with the Irish abroad. The review will build upon the success of the Global Irish Network and the Emigrant Support Programme, and examine the needs and potential of both long-standing and new emigrants.

Consultations as part of the review will be wide-ranging, and will include Irish community organizations overseas, members of the Global Irish Network and other business figures, academia, as well as other Government Departments and bodies.

The consultation process will begin shortly and conclusions of the review will be finalized this year.

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