Mr. Richard King:

I thank both Deputies for their recognition of the position of the more vulnerable and elderly Irish emigrants abroad. To a large extent, the emigrants support work programme funding would have been set up to deal with those people. Some 180 organisations around the world, which are supported by the Government, work with a broad range of people and those organisations, especially in the UK, would be much more in touch with the older emigrants there. We expect they would be involved and would play a large role in promoting this proposal. We work closely with those emigrants who return home and we understand the issues they have. The register would be designed for everyone but a much broader group of people who have emigrated more recently may not be connecting in with Irish groups to the same extent. They might be much more inclined to be in contact online, as Mr. Joe O'Brien mentioned. We view this as the beginning of a long process. There is huge potential for linking in with many issues to promote any type of matter, be it news, voting rights or whatever, as a starting point and in that respect to meet people through the jobs medium would be very useful. It is an offer, not an ask, which is a point which was also raised. We need to offer something to those people who feel like they have got a bit of a hard deal. It is something that must be pushed and promoted.