Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá an díospóireacht seo thar barr.

I want to commend this debate so far. The level of passion is exemplary and it is good to see it at an Oireachtas committee. It is also good to hear these points being made. I am my party's spokesperson on the diaspora so I am dealing with every single issue that has been discussed, and more, on a daily basis. I know that there is a lot more that Mr. Staunton has not been able to go into.

I will ask him to elaborate on a couple of things so that we can get them on the record. I have met Mr. McMahon before and I know that there are major issues due to the change in the US Presidency. There were issues previous to that in the US also concerning the undocumented there. I would like to hear from the witnesses about what is happening on the ground at the moment. I am getting e-mails from family members here who are terrified about what will happen to their brethren who are undocumented and living in the United States. What can we do immediately to try to support them, either by staying where they are or by coming back?

It was mentioned that Ms Maureen Sullivan has personal experience of the barriers to coming home, so it would be important to hear about them. It is worth noting the work that has been done by the "Generation Emigration" column in The Irish Timesand by the Irish Newsand other publications on highlighting these type of issues. People's stories can really strike a chord, so perhaps Ms Sullivan could tell us about her experiences.

The most poignant line I heard came from Ms McHugh who said that people do not get back to die but they get back to be buried. That comment will stay with me because it is so true. There are many people who want to return because they are estranged from family and friends, or may have mental health difficulties or social problems. They find it almost impossible to return, so the witnesses might tell us what can be done in that respect. What measures could the Department of Health and the Department of Social Protection take to deal with those matters fairly quickly?

I have a sense that there is a certain amount of cherry-picking. One often heard of a Government announcement about a scheme with €1 million available.

Some years ago, in response to a large number of fishermen losing lobster pots in storms, a famous and fantastic scheme with substantial funding was introduced. The red tape involved made applying for funding almost impossible, however, and very little money was drawn down. I get a similar sense sometimes with regard to the diaspora. We may say the doors are open and emigrants will always be made welcome but we pursue a policy of placing practical obstacles in the way of emigrants returning. The message to emigrants who are farmers, carpenters, block layers and so on is that they should come back but not just yet, whereas emigrants with plenty of money in their pockets and those who work in information technology, global financial services or similar sectors will be welcomed back. There is a sense that we are engaging in cherry-picking. We want certain emigrants to return, for example, junior doctors and nurses, and we will make it easier for these emigrants to do so. Do the witnesses believe there is a form of political blocking occurring and that things are not moving as quickly as we would hope?

The figures provided appear to be an underestimate because figures available to me show that between 450,000 and 500,000 people have emigrated since 2006. I will not argue with Mr. Staunton on the issue, however, having just observed his ability to engage in political debate.

Mr. Staunton's comments on the national reserve were extremely important and members must take them on board. Ms McHugh and Mr. Staunton alluded to the interdepartmental agency announced in 2015. What engagement have the witnesses had with the agency? Is it moving on the issues on which agreement has been reached? What actions must be speeded up?

What type of engagement is taking place with the Minister of State with responsibility for diaspora affairs? Are he and his officials in regular contact with the emigrant organisations? What progress is being made? In fairness to the former Minister of State with responsibility for diaspora affairs, Mr. Jimmy Deenihan, following his appointment, there was significant activity and public engagement on diaspora issues and he travelled extensively. Matters appear to have quietened down a little. I have probably called for a debate on diaspora affairs ten times since the new Seanad first sat and it is disappointing that we have not yet had such a debate. I am not sure if the Dáil has had a debate on the issue since the Government was appointed but I have a sense that the momentum on diaspora affairs is slowing, which is worrying.

Voting rights for emigrants have been alluded to by previous speakers and I concur with the point that a citizen is a citizen regardless. I would prefer to hear from the witnesses rather than have members rabbiting on about issues. It is very important to get their contributions on the record in order that the joint committee can then consider practical actions that could be taken to follow up on the issues they have raised. I thank the organisations represented today for the work they have been doing both quietly and publicly for years. It is very important that the committee supports them.