Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2019
130. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the actions taken to address difficulties being experienced by returning Irish emigrants; the progress in implementing the recommendations from the report on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6411/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is committed to making it as easy as possible for Irish emigrants to return to live and work in Ireland. Reducing barriers to returning emigrants has important implications for national competitiveness; in a growing Irish economy facilitating the return of skills will be of importance in sustaining economic growth.
My colleague, the Minister of State for the Diaspora, Ciarán Cannon, chairs the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Irish Abroad which works to ensure that Government works in a joined up way to realise the objectives of Ireland’s Diaspora Policy, including addressing issues affecting the Irish abroad and those seeking to return.
On foot of the work by the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Irish Abroad my Department commissioned an independent economic report on difficulties experienced by Irish people returning home. This report was completed in February 2018, considered by Government, and published on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
Since the publication of the Indecon Economic Report on Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has undertaken a number of steps, in conjunction with other Government Departments and State Agencies, to address the thirty recommendations made in the report. Most recently, Minister of State Cannon wrote to relevant Ministers in December 2018 seeking a further update on progress on their individual areas of responsibility, which will be addressed at the next IDC meeting on 21st February.
My Department has already implemented several of the Indecon Report’s recommendations in relation to information provision. An enhanced ‘Returning to Ireland’ section containing more information and advice for returning emigrants has been developed for our dedicated diaspora website, the Global Irish Hub. Officials are working closely with the Citizen’s Information Board to ensure that returning emigrants have the best information and advice possible to assist them in making the return back to Ireland.
Currently, nineteen of the total thirty recommendations have been addressed. Departments are aware of further action to be taken in respect of 6 recommendations. The remaining 5 recommendations are being partially implemented, or are being considered as part of a wider issue rather than in the context of the recommendation alone.
All responses made in respect of these recommendations will inform a further Memorandum to Government, and will, at the request of Government, provide an update on the progress made since the publication of the Indecon Report.
