Mr. Richard King:

To briefly address the point about the Department of Justice and Equality and the joined-up approach from all Departments, the establishment of a ministerial position was an excellent step. To have a major report published to make recommendations public is really good and it facilitates all of the things we are doing. However, we are only at the start of the process. I would like to see the Departments state publicly how they intend to address these barriers and deal with the recommendations. I do not know why there is a hold up in the Department of Justice and Equality. I suspect it relates to concerns around how it might impact domestically in that there will be people in both situations. In general, the Department and its immigration service look at the immigration system having regard to people already within Ireland. That is where they develop policy from. They do not necessarily look at it from outside Ireland but that is where the shortfall is. We have a national diaspora strategy and we have identified barriers, which is why I am a little disappointed. The only thing the Department of Justice and Equality can do relates to this issue of barriers. It does not have a significant remit otherwise, excluding prisoners. It is the immigration services rather than the Department of Justice and Equality per se. I would really like to see them engage publicly and state what they are going to do and in what timeframe. It is lacking there and it is lacking across other Departments also. By the way, I note that we are in contact with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and will meet its representatives again. However, we need the will to be there to push these issues over the line and we are not aware that it exists at the moment.