Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on this work so far in engaging with the diaspora. This is a hugely important issue because of our history of emigration. I agree with Deputy Smith regarding broadcasting and communicating with the diaspora that there is a social obligation on our national broadcaster to do everything in its power to ensure the link is maintained through broadcasting to the UK, in particular, from the transmitter in County Meath. It is not beyond the realm of possibility for RTE to use television licence revenue for that purpose.

With regard to improving contacts with the diaspora in general, to what extent are universities encouraged to offer scholarships? To what extent could the State become involved in offering scholarships to people who have a link with Ireland or who wish to have one, particularly to encourage such links and to magnify the opportunities for investment by Irish companies in the US and US companies in Ireland, which has been ongoing for several years? It would be beneficial to develop those links through the universities because they are excellent at inviting and encouraging foreign students. It could be beneficial if people were invited in particular from the US and UK.

We were led to believe in recent times that there was a simple way to resolve the issue of the undocumented Irish in the US but I found on closer examination that there is not. It is the way it always has been. It is complicated and difficult and the issue has been ongoing for several years. During discussions with the diaspora, to what extent has it been found possible to encourage the authorities in the US, given President Obama's declaration in this regard, to bring this issue to a satisfactory conclusion and if so, how? I acknowledge a court case is pending. What positive influence can we bring to bear on the outcome? Notwithstanding modern technology and the fact that families can stay in contact daily on the Internet through Skype and so on, it would be more beneficial in the environment in which we live and the fact that some undocumented Irish have been overseas for almost 30 years, to be able to make contact with them, as this could be hugely important for their morale and that of their relatives and for our morale.

As the Minister of State said, the importance of county associations is diminishing while voluntary sporting associations are increasing in importance. Could statutory agencies such as local authorities be involved to a greater extent in identifying and adopting their former residents? The Minister of State has beneficial links in this regard through the Kerrymen's association in the US. I am sure most local authorities maintain links but it is always important that statutory authorities at local level become involved and identified with issues of this nature because it gives them an imprimatur that may be lacking sometimes.