Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for the presentation. I am fascinated by the study because I was involved in developing the first policy paper by any political party on the Irish overseas. One of the recommendations was to have a Minister for the Diaspora. Many countries with a diaspora smaller than ours have dedicated ministries. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Éamon Gilmore, has also spoken on this matter in recent times. I tie this suggestion with the delegation's third recommendation on data collection. Someone has to be in charge of collecting the data and the Irish abroad unit could be central in this regard.

Members have spoken on the issue of voting rights for emigrants. The shocking fact is that what was proposed at the Constitutional Convention was the lowest form of expression of democracy. Giving a vote in a presidential election, an office which is largely ceremonial, represents the lowest form in the democratic world. Of the 186 countries in the world, 121 give a vote to the diaspora. Only eight restrict the vote to presidential elections, but these eight countries have an executive president. Ireland is considering giving the Diaspora a vote in a presidential election, a ceremonial office. I refer to the executive power held by President Obama. We are considering what is the least we could do, yet we are hesitating.

Of more immediate value to the Diaspora would be having a Minister in charge of co-ordinating the work of various Departments to ensure the rights and concerns of the Diaspora are dealt with. For example, I refer to the particular issue of driving licences for Irish people moving to Canada. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport informs the authorities in Ottawa that it does not deal at sub-national level. Ottawa and British Columbia are bigger than Ireland and have larger populations. Each province in Canada has its own driving licence system, yet the Department has no interest in dealing with Irish emigrants. This illustrates the need for a Minister to undertake that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport would deal with the issue of driving licences in Canada for Irish emigrants.

I commend the work done in compiling the information contained in the report and know how difficult it is to compile information which can be hard to find. The report suggests one agency should deal with the data required. Every party should commit to the appointment of a Minister for the Diaspora in advance of the next election. When the manifestos are merged, it is to be hoped a ministerial office could be created, whether with a Minister of State or a full Cabinet Minister. It is essential to engage with the resource that is the Diaspora because otherwise it is a loss to Ireland and a loss for Irish people abroad.