Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegation for the report which is thought-provoking for all of us. I had to smile at the notion of a ministry for the Diaspora. I remember the national outcry when the Department of Social Protection wrote to people telling them about jobs in some other country - I cannot remember which but perhaps it was Germany or somewhere else. There was an uproar that the Government was trying to get people to emigrate. There is a danger that such a ministry would be seen as encouraging emigration. However, I take the point being made by the delegation.

I agree with the proposal to have a person to negotiate on behalf of the Diaspora on the issues of driving licences and passports.

Deputies Eric Byrne and Bernard J. Durkan raised a point on the validity of the notion behind emigration, about which I also thought.