Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2022
54. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps taken to link-in with the local diaspora for the Consulate General for the North of England; if consideration is being given to the use of a building which housed an Irish club (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3791/22]
View answerThe establishment of the Consulate General of Ireland in Manchester in July 2021 has allowed us to strengthen our relationship with Ireland’s diaspora and Irish community organisations across the North of England. I saw this first hand during my visit to open the new Consulate General on 1 October 2021. I engaged with representatives of numerous Irish community organisations at the opening reception in Manchester and during a programme at the Liverpool Irish Centre.
Since last July, the team at the new Consulate General has been active in engaging with our diaspora. It has visited Irish clubs in Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle, Huddersfield, Warrington, and Manchester, including the Irish Club mentioned by the Deputy. It has also met with several Irish community groups, such as Irish Community Care in Merseyside, and Irish Community Care Manchester, and Leeds Irish Health and Homes. In addition, the Consulate has engaged with Irish sporting and cultural organisations, including the Lancashire and Yorkshire GAA County Board, and met with Irish media entities, including Irish community radio programmes in Manchester and the makers of the Irish in the UK TV programme.
This outreach work builds on decades of engagement by Embassy London and the work of the Irish Abroad Unit in my Department. In 2021, funding of €1,336,551 was allocated to 25 organisations in the North of England under the Emigrant Support Programme.
My Department is working with Enterprise Ireland to select a location for a permanent Ireland House in Manchester, which will include the long term chancery for the Consulate. The Ireland House will facilitate the collective work of Team Ireland - enhancing bilateral relations, deepening regional engagement, advancing our commercial interests and diaspora engagement. Specific requirements have been identified for an Ireland House in Manchester. The building that housed the Irish Club referenced by the Deputy has been visited by the Consulate General team and I can confirm that full consideration of the suitability of this premises has been considered, in line with these specific requirements.
