Michael Ring
Ceist:150 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the Task Force on Emigrants Report. [10021/03]
Written Answers. - Policy on Emigration.
The task force on policy regarding emigrants was established in December 2001 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 2002. The report has been published by my Department and is available on the Department's website.
I welcome the report which provides a comprehensive analysis of the issues relating to emigration and presents them in a forward-looking way that focuses on the needs of the future. I believe that the report provides a template for a new approach to supporting our emigrants abroad, in particular those who are most vulnerable and disadvantaged.
In October 2002, the Government approved 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 working group has met a number of times and will be reporting to me shortly.
Responsibility for the Díon fund, which assists vulnerable Irish emigrants in Britain, was transferred to my Department from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in February 2003. This was to comply with a recommendation of the task force report which proposed that all Government funding for emigrant services should be brought together under the Vote for Foreign Affairs.
The draft partnership agreement Sustaining Progress, the successor to the PPF, which is currently being finalised, contains a chapter on special initiatives which will be addressed during the lifetime of the programme. One of these special initiatives is migration and inter-culturalism and, included under this heading, is a provision for the development, arising from the conclusions and recommendations of the task force, of a coherent set of initiatives to be developed in consultation with the relevant interests.
The arrangements for carrying out this work will be decided by the steering group which will be established to manage the implementation of the agreement. These arrangements, which will include representatives of Government and the social partners, will provide a mechanism for advancing the implementation of the task force's report.