Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know it from my travels, as do other members, that our embassies and consulates general in Boston, New York, Chicago and San Francisco have good links with local GAA clubs. A delegation of the committee visited some Irish emigrant centres. Any time members have travelled abroad, the local embassy has arranged a function for us attended by many Irish people who have registered with them. They also use GAA clubs and other centres for emigrants.

The Government provides substantial funding to overseas emigration centres. The Emerald isle and Aisling centres in New York and other centres in London receive funding. We visit these centres when we travel abroad because it is important to connect with the diaspora to the greatest possible extent. I give the ambassadors and consul generals a thumb's up for the work they do in connecting with the diaspora.

Ms McAleer makes a valid point on job vacancies. Connect Ireland has been a successful initiative aimed at attracting people abroad to come home and establish a business. While there is much that we can do, much is also being done. The resources of our embassies are limited and there is only so much that can be done.

I commend the National Youth Council of Ireland on the work it is doing and hope many of its recommendations will be taken on board in the review. I thank the witnesses for engaging in an energetic and lively conversation on the task facing the joint committee. Irish people living abroad are very important to us.