James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I did not mention Brexit but obviously it is a huge challenge for this country and a challenge in terms of jobs. We need all the connectivity we can muster to remain in place. I thank the witnesses for the work they have done and for all the jobs and goodwill they have brought as well as for cementing the connectivity with the diaspora. The last message that should come from this meeting is, "Thanks very much, we are all right now." The message we should convey is that we appreciate the tremendous patriotism and connectivity of the people who have left this country, we value it above and beyond jobs and that it is something we want to grow and flourish in good times as well as bad. Although we are in a much better place than we were previously, we still need all that connectivity. It works both ways. Much goodwill and many possibilities can flow back to the countries that make the connections here. I thank the witnesses and assure them we will lobby the Minister very hard on this. We want the message to go back to the 78,000 connections, and to the many more it is hoped the organisation will make, that we appreciate and value them, regardless of the jobs side of it.