Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 1 April 2015

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade

Global Irish - Ireland’s Diaspora Policy: Minister of State at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

10:00 am

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Deenihan, and Ms Emer Rocke, director of the Irish abroad unit, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This meeting provides an opportunity for members to discuss the recently launched Government policy for Ireland's diaspora.

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile telephones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference with the recording equipment in the committee rooms. As members are aware, today's meeting is being broadcast live on television on the Oireachtas channel.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or body outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the joint committee. If they are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they will be entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Without any further delay I call my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Deenihan, who has done a very good job since becoming Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora. He is the Government's first such Minister of State, and in the past nine months he has travelled the world meeting Irish people and making connections. The recently launched policy is a result of the many meetings he had with the diaspora throughout the world. They have played an important role for Ireland, particularly in terms of its economic recovery, and it is important to cherish them.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I am delighted to be here this morning. I thank the Chairman for the invitation to address the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and to update it on the recent launch of Global Irish: Ireland’s Diaspora Policy, and my plans for its implementation over the next two years. This morning I intend to present some of the key elements of the policy and highlight some of the actions I will implement. Throughout the policy we reiterate our desire for feedback and comment. At the outset I want to stress that I am looking forward to the members' feedback, and I especially hope they will remain interested and involved throughout the implementation process in a meaningful way.

Two key themes emerged from the consultation process we undertook for this policy: representation and communication. Under representation, there were clear demands for the creation of a post of Minister for the diaspora, and in July 2014 this was responded to with my own appointment. There were also demands for voting rights in Irish elections for the Irish overseas.

Regarding presidential elections, the Constitutional Convention, in its fifth report, recommended extending voting rights in presidential elections to citizens outside the State, including those in Northern Ireland. This would certainly be welcomed by the Irish overseas. Since my appointment, I have travelled extensively, and the message from our citizens overseas is consistent. They want to actively express their connection to Ireland and play a more active role in Irish society, and they believe that voting would give meaning to that desired connection. However, it is not straightforward. There are a number of policy, legal and practical issues that have to be thoroughly considered. The Government has asked the Minister, Deputy Kelly, in co-operation with the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, and myself, to analyse these issues and report back to Government, and that is what we will do.

The other key theme which emerged from the consultation process was communication. There were calls for the Government to communicate more, and more effectively, with those who have left Ireland, and to facilitate communication among Irish communities around the world. With modern technology it is more possible than ever to engage with Irish communities globally. People told us they want to feel connected and they want the Government to play an active role in achieving that. The communications technology advances in the past ten years have given us the tools. It is up to us to use them. Since my appointment I have met with some of the technology and social media companies based in Dublin, including Microsoft, Google, LinkedIn and Twitter, and I will meet with Facebook tomorrow to discuss how it can support us in better connecting with our people overseas.

We have also started developing a range of communication tools designed to reach different people in different places with different interests and needs. For example, we have launched an online global Irish portal, which is an easy-to-access source of information on how to remain connected to Ireland through sport, heritage, culture and media. The portal also provides information on the supports available to the Irish overseas, including information on the emigrant support programme, business supports and information about returning home to Ireland, and is available to view on www.dfa.ie/global-irish. We will increase our social media presence, initially through our @Globalirish Twitter account, allowing our Irish abroad to interact with us in a direct and immediate way. Also, we are finalising the details of the new global Irish media fund to support media coverage of diaspora and emigration-related experience.

The policy is also wider than those two broad themes. We want to support the diaspora, connect with the diaspora, facilitate diaspora engagement, recognise the diaspora and continue to evolve the policy to meet changing diaspora needs.

I will now highlight some of the actions under those themes. In 2014, we provided almost €12 million in financial support to over 200 organisations working with emigrants and the diaspora in over 20 countries spread over five continents. Funding is delivered through the emigrant support programme, ESP, which has provided €125 million in grant assistance since its inception in 2004. The new policy confirms that welfare will remain at the heart of the ESP. We will also pay particular attention to vulnerable groups such as aging communities, Travellers, prisoners, the undocumented and those with mental health needs. In budget 2015, funding for the ESP was maintained at €11.5 million, with an additional €1 million for new diaspora projects and initiatives.

I have already outlined some of our communication strategy, which falls under the pillar of connecting with the diaspora, but our links are also strengthened by our language, music, dance, sport, literature and so on. As we are all aware, more than any other aspect of our Irishness, our culture reaches all corners of the world. It is one of the most effective ways of connecting with the global diaspora, strengthening links to home and maintaining expression of Irish identity through generations. St. Patrick’s Day is one focal point, but throughout the year Irish sports and cultural organisations maintain that connection. The Government will continue to support them and provide the necessary infrastructure to facilitate their work.

This year, we will also support our diaspora in commemorating the creation of the Irish State. Many of the 1916 leaders were part of the diaspora at different times in their lives, some having been born abroad and others having lived overseas. We want to remember the role the diaspora played in those events and in the founding of our State. We also want to support initiatives that connect our diaspora more locally to home. While the county associations are not as strong as they were, the connection to place remains. We will support local authorities and local community development committees in seeking to identify initiatives for building these relationships.

To facilitate diaspora engagement, we will work in partnership with various organisations which aim to make lives better for Irish people at home and abroad. These organisations can reach people in ways that we simply cannot - for example, the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee and Irish in Britain in the UK, the GAA worldwide, and the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centres in the United States. In June of this year we will convene our first Global Civic Forum to bring these and other organisations together to discuss the challenges facing the Irish abroad and to capture the voice of ordinary Irish emigrants. This year, 2015, will also see the fourth Global Irish Economic Forum, which will bring together members of the Global Irish Network. The network has played a significant role in contributing to Ireland’s economic recovery and in rebuilding our economic reputation. We will ensure that the 2015 forum will have better gender balance and greater participation from younger people.

The Government will also continue to support Irish business networks around the world. These networks vary in reach and composition but they all help Irish business people and professionals to connect with each other, seek out new opportunities and, ultimately, advance themselves and their businesses, and we will continue to facilitate that success. For example, we support the Irish International Business Network, IIBN, in delivering the Irish Executive Mentoring Programme, an online mentorship tool that matches experienced mentors with up-and-coming entrepreneurs and business executives among the diaspora. Just last week I was delighted to host IIBN in Iveagh House, and the success stories were inspiring. We had real evidence, in the form of contracts won, proving the value of our support for networks such as IIBN, which are fostering the next generation of Irish business people overseas.

There are already some initiatives in place that recognise the diaspora. The Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad was initiated by the Government in 2012. It provides recognition by the President of persons living abroad who have given sustained and distinguished services to Ireland or to Irish communities abroad. So far, 30 remarkable individuals have been honoured, and we are now welcoming nominees for the 2015 awards; the closing date is 22 April.

There are so many Irish people doing great things all over the world and the awards offer an opportunity to recognise them. I take this opportunity to encourage members of the committee to consider nominating eligible candidates from their own international networks through the embassy in the country in which those individuals are resident.

We also have the Certificate of Heritage scheme, which is an acknowledgement of the importance the Government attaches to recognising people of Irish descent. Uptake of the certificate has been disappointing, with fewer than 3,000 certificates having been produced to date. In 2015 we will undertake an evaluation of the operation of the certificate scheme.

This policy will continue to evolve. We want to be responsive to real need. Therefore, I remain open to new ideas so that the policy can evolve to meet changing needs in changing times. We will also try to build better and stronger links with alumni from Irish institutions overseas, as they have enormous potential for the institutions and for Ireland as a whole. In 2015 we will launch an alumni challenge fund to provide seed funding to new collaborative initiatives by Irish institutions to target their Irish and non-Irish graduates working internationally.

That was just a small taste of some of the actions contained within our new policy. The implementation of those will be overseen by an interdepartmental committee that I will chair. This committee will ensure a whole-of-Government approach, will report to Government on progress and will review the implementation fully after two years.

I thank committee members for the opportunity to address them this morning. I am grateful to have the chance to outline the work I have done since I was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for diaspora affairs, and to highlight some of the important upcoming work. I look forward to the response of members and especially to hear any new proposals they might have. As I said at the launch of Global Irish: Ireland's Diaspora Policy, it is the first comprehensive policy statement by any Government in the history of the State. It is appropriate that it is coming at this time, prior to the commemoration of 2016. The policy is comprehensive, but given that it is a work in progress, we can add new ideas as they emerge. That is one of the reasons I am delighted to be present at this morning's meeting.

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State. Before I call on Deputy Smith, I wish to refer to the commemorations in 2016 and the role of the diaspora. As a former Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, does he know what plans are in place for the diaspora during next year's commemorations?

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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There are very exciting plans. As you are aware, Chairman, the national programme was launched yesterday evening in Collins Barracks. It is a very exciting programme. I was delighted that people who had some concerns are now very positive and supportive. The programme will attract considerable support and participation from everybody. The programme belongs to everyone. The main emphasis will be on ensuring that everyone in the country can embrace the programme at local school level, institutional level and nationally. Very exciting events will be promoted by the Government but also by the cultural institutions. I was delighted with the response received from people who had genuine concerns, for example, concerning the involvement of the families of those people who gave their lives for Ireland. They are now very much at the centre of the programme, which is the way it should be. A major emphasis will be placed on those who participated and gave their lives for Ireland, and their families who were affected by that. People have been reassured that they will be the central focus of the commemoration.

I mentioned the Global Civic Forum. We will launch the international programme at the Global Civic Forum. It will be a very good platform for it. We are developing plans for the international programme, which will also be quite exciting. We will work through the embassies and consulates general. Culture Ireland will have a major role to play in it as well as other organisations. We will ensure that as part of the programme we will connect with all parts of the world. As you indicated, Chairman, I have travelled to a number of countries since I became Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora. I have travelled nearly as much as you.

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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There was competition, so.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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There is a very positive attitude towards Ireland at this time right across the world, especially among the diaspora. Members of the diaspora like the fact that we paid our debts and that we have met the financial challenge and are coming out of it strongly. Those people who want to come back to Ireland realise that the only way they can come back is if there is a strong economy, because a strong economy introduces jobs. They read The Wall Street Journaland the Financial Times. They know what forbes.com and Bloomberg say.

Photo of Eric ByrneEric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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What about The New York Timesand The Irish Times?

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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They read very positive messages from Ireland and they are very proud of that. They realise that if the economy is going well in this country that it is good for them. They are very interested in the commemorations as well. Everyone will be able to connect with the international programme.

When I was Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht I was involved in the creation of a new website,www.inspiringireland.ie. I was delighted that the website got an e-Government award. It will be the platform for the cultural institutions. The next major project will be the commemoration of 1916. The offering for our diaspora will be available through www.inspiringireland.ie. All of the cultural institutions will work together to put the content on the site, which will be driven by Sandra Collins of the Digital Repository of Ireland in conjunction with an expert group. It will be the place to go if one wants to get information on 1916. As Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora I will continue the work in which I was involved in the creation of the site with the 1916 commemoration project onwww.inspiringireland.ie. I am very excited about that as well. Modern technology will give a platform to 1916 all over the world and the place to go will be www.inspiringireland.ie, which will also popularise that particular site.

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the presentation by the Minister of State, Deputy Deenihan. I note that he states that the policy is evolving and that he is anxious to get input from everybody involved, which I very much welcome. The importance of the diaspora is very much reflected in Article 2 of the Constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann, which refers to the special affinity of the Irish people with its diaspora. The work of the Minister of State is very important in that respect.

The Minister of State referred to social communications and the ever-more-important role of communications in terms of new social media. When we discussed the Estimates I raised a similar concern about those who do not use social media. We must ensure that our policies do not leave out the isolated and vulnerable people, who in many cases are the older population, and that their interests and issues are represented as well. We are aware of many instances of isolation, loneliness and mental health issues. I hope the various programmes, particularly the emigrant support programme, are targeted very much at welfare, with a special emphasis on the needs of the less well off and more vulnerable people. When the embassy organises a function in a particular country we know the people who are on the embassy list and who will attend, but there is always a cohort of people who are not reached.

We therefore have to develop policies to ensure they are. The Minister of State mentioned the emphasis on welfare in the emigrant support programme, which I welcome. I presume that is intended to assist the different organisations working with the more vulnerable members of the diaspora in cities throughout the world, particularly in Britain and the US.

A number of weeks ago, the former Úachtaráin of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and its ard stúirthóir made a presentation regarding the GAA and its global remit to the committee. The Minister of State referred to the reducing influence of the county associations in his contribution. Oftentimes nowadays, emigrants are organised more through the GAA and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. I have attended Cavan and Monaghan association events over the years and I am concerned that the older age cohorts are the bedrocks of those associations. It would be a pity if the associations died out because they have an important role to play. Thought needs to be given by the departmental staff abroad to ensuring they continue to play an important role in conjunction with the GAA, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and other cultural organisations. The associations played a significant role in the past but they are not as influential or central as they were. Is thought being given in the Department to ensuring their work continues?

On the issue of communications, Deputy Durkan and I have raised at the committee the issue of the decision by RTE to cease its long wave radio service. The proposed cessation of the service has been deferred for a number of years. A suggestion was made that if it was to continue, it should be supported financially by the emigrant support programme but I disagree. RTE should fund it and there is a great onus on the organisation to ensure the service continues. This concerns people who do not have the competence to use modern technology and under no circumstances should those who avail of the service currently be deprived of it. The service is important in Britain in particular but it is also important in my province, Ulster, for example, in the glens of Antrim and other parts of County Armagh where people depend on the long wave signal to listen to RTE radio.

The Minister of State referred to the extension of voting rights. A decision should be made in a reformed Seanad to appoint a member of the diaspora to the House. There is plenty of scope to provide for that. All Irish citizens, regardless of where they reside, should be entitled to vote in Presidential elections. If we wait for systems to be put in place before a decision is made to extend the franchise, we will have to wait years. It would be preferable if a decision was made, for example, to extend the franchise for the Presidential election and then put in place the modus operandifor the electoral system, otherwise we will have report after report and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government or local authorities telling us it cannot be done and so on. A decision should be made to extend the franchise and then the system should be devised. It is not beyond the competence of the public service to put in place an electoral system to cater for such an extension.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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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.

Photo of Eric ByrneEric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for attending and wish him well in his work. Who are the diaspora? How are they defined?

I am conscious of the fact that when I was growing up in Ireland, travel to other countries, mainly to Britain, was part and parcel of one's life. People went to England to find work in construction to build tunnels and railway lines. As we know, there are now elderly Irish people living there who have been left behind. They have to be communicated with, which is why people here have been arguing for the continuation of RTE's long wave broadcasting system. While I appreciate there are emigrant associations in various places that do excellent work on behalf of emigrants, does the Minister of State agree that there is another element? Those who have left Ireland within the past 15 years are highly educated, mobile and accessible using Skype or smart phones. I received a telephone call this morning from Albania which I have not yet had a chance to return. Nowadays people can communicate easily. People who are younger are availing of work opportunities available around the world. On the other hand, there are older people, former building workers, who are seen as older emigrants. Do we pay enough attention to the modern Irish who would not even know RTE has a long wave broadcasting service? The differences are that great but social communications are important.

As a small nation, I thought we were doing fairly well in dealing with the diaspora owing to the success of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations, which are phenomenal. St. Patrick's Day was even celebrated this year in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, with its magnificent town hall being turned green. More and more countries are coming on board, while the GAA is increasingly engaging with the diaspora. I am more concerned, however, about and interested in what is stated on the first page of the Minister of State's contribution, in which he referred to the fact that the European Union had indicated that we were remiss in not affording voting rights to the disapora. How does one define the diaspora? Does it include Irish citizens exclusively? Is its size calculated by the number of passports? Does the Minister of State know how many Irish passports have been issued? He hid the complexity of how one could give voting rights in general elections to residents of Northern Ireland, for example, be they loyalists or republicans, let alone move further afield. As a member of this committee, I am conscious that many countries have afforded members of their diaspora the right to vote in their embassies all over the world, including Albania. While I appreciate that the Minister of State wants to give away 3,000 certificates and may have printed that number, he certainly has not distributed them yet. It is a nice gesture, but it is tokenism. With all due respect to him, the hard core issue is how we can afford citizenship rights to Irish citizens who wish to participate in elections here.

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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As there are three sets of questions to the Minister of State, I ask him to reply to them. When he has finished answering them, I will call the final three members.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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All three members of the committee who have spoken have raised some pertinent questions. I am sure the three remaining speakers will raise further questions.

As regards communications, Deputies Bernard J. Durkan and Brendan Smith referred to the older Irish who would not be into social media. I agree with them that we did not realise the importance of the long wave 252 transmitter until RTE decided to discontinue using it. There was then a remarkable response from Irish people, not only in Britain but also in Northern Ireland who were concerned about the issue. It is welcome that RTE has extended use of the transmitter until 2017. We have funded research to determine the size of the audience which will I hope guarantee the future of the service in determining what the audience requires and how important it is to it. The feedback I have received, including especially correspondence from the United Kingdom, clearly demonstrates that the long wave transmitter is an important line of communication for the diaspora, not only elderly people, living in Britain and Northern Ireland.

RTE recently launched the international player and I attended the event. Last summer its product GAAGO proved to be very successful. When I was in America, I met the proprietors of major Irish bars in many cities. They were not seeing as many customers coming to watch GAA matches because they were now watching them at home. Although at times games were being shown early in the morning, people were getting together in their homes to watch matches. The international player service will be a major contributor to communication between Ireland and the rest of the world.

The new Irish TV initiative is also proving to be effective. It is being carried on the Sky platform. Its directors are in contact with major American broadcasters and I hope the service will be carried on a number of platforms there. There is a lot of enthusiasm and excitement about it. I recognise its work in reaching out to the diaspora. It uses local positive stories about Ireland from each county, which people like. Research has recently been undertaken in Limerick by GLN, Global Limerick Network. It was established by Mr. Tim O'Connor, a former Irish consul-general in New York. The research shows that people want to hear positive stories from their respective counties and the country generally because that is what excites them. Irish TV is doing this by seeking positive stories from all counties which are then broadcast internationally. It is an important development.

The county associations, including those in Dublin, are powerful. I recently attended an event in County Kerry which was attended by 550 people to honour a great Kerryman in London, Danny Tim O'Sullivan, and it was totally booked out. The Mayo association held a major event in Dublin recently. County associations are not as strong as they used to be, but I agree with the Deputies that they are important. We should make efforts to encourage and keep them together. During the years I have developed a network for County Kerry. It was easy enough to do because there was a major affinity on the part of people who had left but who returned regularly to attend major events every September. When I attended the global economic forum, I did not see many of the people I knew from around the world, although there were a few successful Kerry people in attendance. I am sure it is the same for every other county. I have been building a network through LinkedIn, as well as holding meetings with people from County Kerry in different cities around the world.

We are working with the local enterprise offices and will be launching the initiative shortly. I hope the offices will have a designated person who will co-ordinate each county's business networks. Networks, by their nature, depend on the enthusiasm of the people involved. If, however, they are connected with the local authority, there is a better chance they will be sustainable for the future. I invite all members of the committee to attend the launches with the county managers and the chief executives of the LEOs. It will provide a good opportunity to create links between counties and the diaspora in a professional and sustainable way. I also hope we will be able to revive the county associations through this initiative. Local councillors will be able to identify and recommend businesses for inclusion in the database.

The Constitutional Convention recommended members of the diaspora have a vote in presidential elections. The next presidential election will be held in 2018, which gives us the advantage of time. There are approximately 1 million active Irish passport holders - it must be remembered a passport has to be renewed every ten years - living outside of the country, including in Northern Ireland. There are many others who are entitled to hold an Irish passport but who may not have applied for one. This database of passport holders could provide a register of electors. The Taoiseach is personally committed to this issue because he has a significant connection with the diaspora. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the line Department in charge of dealing with it. I will be working on it with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, to examine the logistics and the challenges involved. The matter is being taken very seriously by the Government. As the next presidential election will not be held until 2018, we have time to ensure we get it right. We must make it clear who can vote and where they can do so. We must decide whether there will be postal or electronic voting, or at embassies or consulates. As it may be difficult for some to avail of the latter option, we are examining all other scenarios. Other Governments have examined this issue, but this is the first time it has been taken seriously. It will also be the first time in the history of the State that members of the diaspora will vote in a presidential election.

Deputy Brendan Smith raised the issue of members of the diaspora voting in Seanad elections. The Irish in Britain group made a good submission on extending voting rights in Seanad elections to Maurice Manning’s Seanad reform working group. It was similar to a proposal I had made in 1991 in the Dáil in calling for one Senator to represent the USA, Canada and South America, one senator to represent Europe, including the United Kingdom, and one Senator to represent Australia and the rest of the world. If there was a register of electors for the diaspora for presidential elections, it could also be used for Seanad elections. It will be interesting to see the recommendations of the Seanad reform working group on this proposal. There would be a possibility of examining nominees for these positions before we were ready for Seanad elections, but that is a matter for the Government to decide.

The issue of the undocumented Irish in America is challenging and complicated. During the years successive Taoisigh have made this one of their main discussion points with various US Presidents when they have the unique opportunity to meet them on St. Patrick's Day. It is estimated that there are 50,000 undocumented Irish, but it could be more or it could be less. The Obama initiative would help approximately 3 million undocumented immigrants, allowing those with children and no criminal records and who were willing to settle tax arrears the right to stay in America and providing a pathway to their becoming legal and fully documented. The initiative is, however, being contested in the US courts as there is, unfortunately, huge opposition to it from the Republican Party. Yesterday Paul Ryan, a leading Republican, visited Leinster House, which gave me a chance to raise this issue with him. Whereas the Republicans are concerned about the Obama initiative, they are open to certain initiatives that we might be able to take to help undocumented Irish immigrants, as well as others. It is not that Republicans are closed to immigration reform, but they believe the President went beyond his executive powers.

The Mitchell scholarships are not confined to members of the Irish diaspora and are a good example of how scholarships can work. One initiative arising from the diaspora policy we will be rolling out is similar to one that has proved to be very successful in Israel, the Taglit birthright scheme. It would allow third generation Irish people to spend ten days free in Ireland learning about Irish culture and heritage. I hope some of the young people involved may return to Ireland to pursue other education programmes in the future. The programme will commence this year.

It has proven to be very successful in Israel. We will target third generation Irish people and I hope it will become a broader programme in future. The idea is that because there is no legal pathway of immigration to America, at this time there are approximately 150,000 people in America who were born in Ireland. That connection would wane as time goes on and generations pass, so we are trying to reconnect with the third generation to keep the connection going. It will be an important initiative from this programme.

I am glad Deputy Eric Byrne raised the issue of St. Patrick's Day. When I was Minister, I assembled a number of people, based on the success of Dublin events. The Dublin festival is now a major event that is organised and co-ordinated properly. I wanted to use the Dublin example to co-ordinate all the St. Patrick's Day parades all over the world. Perhaps there could even be one database that could show what is happening all over the world and who are the organisers, so if people such as musicians wanted to travel to perform, they could make their services available. If organisers wanted people to come from Ireland, they could use the same database. I have continued this work in the Department and it is mentioned in the policy. We will accelerate that work for the next St. Patrick's Day, and I hope we will have more co-ordination on what is happening all over the world. There are several parades that we are not even aware of, and more parades could take place around the world if they could be encouraged. There must be some focus and co-ordination, and I hope we can link the processes online, for example.

I am glad the Deputy raised the issue, as it is a marvellous opportunity. We are the only country in the world which is received at the White House on our national day. For those of us lucky enough to be abroad - I was in Chicago - we know that the world feels a connection with Ireland on St. Patrick's Day and even on the days before that. I have always recognised that and the connection is growing as time goes on. St. Patrick's Day is becoming a bigger cultural event. Where once it may have been associated with revelry, it is now more associated with culture, quality, business and every aspect of being Irish that is good. It provides us with a great platform and I hope we will continue to work on that.

Photo of Jim WalshJim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State and much of what I wanted to say has been covered. With regard to the undocumented in the United States, perhaps we should put a bit more emphasis on the relationship with the Grand Old Party, GOP. Our traditional connections have been more with the Democratic Party than the Republicans and I know efforts have been made to build that up. There is scope to do that as there are many Irish links within the Republican Party. To some extent, we would have quite a bit in common with them as well. That might help overcome difficulties, as the Minister mentioned there are many obstacles.

My colleague, Deputy Brendan Smith, mentioned Seanad membership and I agree with his comments. I do not particularly agree with nominations for the diaspora and I do not agree with having Taoiseach's nominees as the Seanad should be an entirely elected Chamber. It is possible to have that and I was taken by the manner in which the Minister of State indicated there could be three representatives. In coming to the 1916 centenary and in discussions of inclusiveness, we should extend the vote for the Seanad to Northern Ireland. I have spoken to Unionist councillors over the years, especially when there were strong North-South links with local authority members. Many Unionists were very disposed to taking a place in the Seanad but did not want to be isolated within their communities. Perhaps we could extend this in a way that we could have a certain critical mass, which would enhance the importance of the Seanad and open dialogue, North and South, that may not be happening as much as it could be politically.

I agree with the comments on the presidential election and extending the franchise. Some people have suggested this should happen for general elections but I am not persuaded that this is a good idea. There should be a link between residents and taxation with respect to the formulation of the Government and electing people. I agree with everything that is being done with regard to communications. It is extraordinary that a national broadcaster would seek to remove the long wave 252 service. If that happens, it will offset any good the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora can do. It is a link that many people depend on, and particularly a certain age group that may not be fully engaged with modern technology and social media.

I will finish by recounting a trip by the committee to Singapore towards the end of last year. We engaged with the Irish Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, which was a very good exercise. Perhaps there is scope in countries where there is a diaspora to have a chamber of commerce that would be fairly inclusive. We have many successful business people living abroad and it would benefit their business and provide reciprocal benefits for us if they could link to what is happening here from a business perspective. We also met a gathering of young people when in Singapore. That was interesting and the people were all working. I asked how many of them went to Singapore of their own volition and how many were forced to move because of unemployment here. The Chairman or other members might correct me but almost all of them went to Singapore of their own volition, which was also interesting. I also asked how many of them would be interested in returning to Ireland at some stage in the near future. They were unanimous in their wish to return. We need to keep those links alive in order that people return. They will bring expertise and have a valuable input in the development of Ireland.

My final point was touched on by Deputy Eric Byrne and the Minister of State. There are people who are not successful when they go abroad and they may fall through the cracks. In Britain in particular, there are people who emigrated many years ago with a low level of education and found themselves in hard times. Many people who go abroad now are well educated but people went to Australia, in particular from the building and construction industry, and they probably did not have a high level of education. They had certain building skills. I wonder how they would be affected by a slump in that country and we should be mindful of that. Are schemes and strategies being developed to identify those people? Often, they slip under the radar. One of the groups doing tremendous work - although I am sure there are others - is the GAA. It is extraordinary to go to places like Tokyo or China and see GAA clubs that are a focus for the Irish abroad. It is a real tribute to the games, of which the Minister of State was an exemplary exponent. I am sure the Department is working with that body and we could develop a stronger role in that regard.

Photo of Dan NevilleDan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State's contribution. Opportunities for the diaspora are important issues for those people and the country as a whole. Some of those people are very successful. The descendants of the diaspora are important also, as many of those people connect with Ireland over several generations.

There is an opportunity to tap into their success.

I will mention one group of which the Minister of State is probably aware and which is local to me, namely, the Irish Palatine Association. Its headquarters are in Rathkeale. The Palatines came from Wexford, Carlow, Dublin, Cork and Limerick. There is still a large body of them in Limerick. Their association has connectivity throughout the world, particularly in the US and Canada. It is in contact with many members. Originally, the Palatines came from Germany in 1709 and settled in Ireland, but many went to the US later. There are many families in the Limerick area with names like Bovenizer, Ruttle, Miller and Switzer. I am one of the association's directors, but another is Christy Switzer from Tralee in the Minister of State's county. The families have a level of connectivity. There are regular exchanges with and visits to the Palatinate in Germany from where the Palatines came. There is an opportunity to extend the role of the Irish Palatine Association to introduce people to business and, in particular, tourism opportunities in Ireland. There is already a level of tourism. There is a museum with artifacts from 1709 Germany. Many people visited in 2009 for the tercentenary. Perhaps some of the Minister of State's staff might consider this suggestion and speak to the association to determine what opportunities exist for improving the relevant descendants' understanding of Ireland, given that some of them are only recent emigrants.

I look forward to the Minister of State's reply, but I must go as I have another appointment.

Photo of Mark DalyMark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State and his appointment as the first Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora. We in Fianna Fáil are delighted to be the first party to publish a policy paper on the diaspora and to call for such an appointment. I am delighted to see that it is the Minister of State, Deputy Deenihan.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I thank Fianna Fáil for my appointment.

Photo of Mark DalyMark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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We take some credit, but the Taoiseach might have had slightly more to do with it. We published our paper in July 2013. When asked in October 2013 whether there should be a Minister of State for the diaspora, the then Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade stated that there should be. In 2014, Sinn Féin came out with its policy. Lo and behold, everyone agreed and the Minister of State was appointed. That was consensus politics working at its best.

The Minister of State has done a great job in the role. It is a large one and I would like it to have more resourcing and staffing. As the Minister of State has seen from this meeting, there is much that could be done in terms of collecting up and connecting with county associations as well as the various religious organisations that have major connections in traditionally non-Irish areas.

The Minister of State touched on the matter of votes for the Irish overseas and those who were born in Ireland and hold Irish passports. There are many such people. The county that the Minister of State and I are from had an equally famous politician, Daniel O'Connell, who fought for Catholic emancipation and the right to vote. In 1918, the centenary of which we will celebrate shortly, women got the right to vote. In the 1960s in Derry, people marched for the right to vote. In a modern democracy, though, we are denying many of our citizens the right to vote, even in presidential elections. Some 120 countries manage to give their citizens overseas a right to vote. Of the 33 countries in the Council of Europe, only four do not give citizens outside the state a right to vote, those being, Greece, Malta, Cyprus and Ireland. The Minister of State mentioned that there were technical and logistical issues. That is undoubted, but any country that can bring the top pharmaceutical and Internet companies to its shores can surely give the most basic right to its citizens, that being, the right to vote. I attended the Constitutional Convention when extending the right to vote in presidential elections was supported, but the Minister of State should bear something in mind. Extending the vote to Irish citizens in presidential elections is the least expression of their democratic rights as citizens that we could give them. Only nine countries extend the right to vote in presidential elections to their citizens overseas, but all nine have executive presidents similar to President Obama. We are discussing doing this just for presidential elections.

The Minister of State has mentioned Seanad elections. I agree that citizens overseas should have votes in the Seanad and that the Seanad should be expanded and reformed, but we are a long way off that. The Minister of State is supportive of the process and the concept, but we need to accelerate it. As my colleague pointed out, what better way would there be to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising than to extend the right to vote to people who reside in countries that contributed so much to the rebellion?

The Minister of State has been working with our consuls and ambassadors, but Fianna Fáil's policy document referred to honorary consuls. It is unfair to expect our ambassadors and consuls in the US, Australia and Canada to cover such vast territories. We should replicate what other countries have done. For example, Mexico has a consul or honorary consul in each of the 50 states of the US. We should consider doing the same there as well as in Australia and the provinces of Canada. As the Minister of State knows, there is a large Irish-American community in Montana, yet that area is covered by the consulate in San Francisco, which has just two staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and some local staff. They are asked to cover an area that is nearly the size of western Europe. We are not deploying enough resources to tap into the goodwill or to have people serve as go-to people on the ground. I am sure that the Minister of State has met the honorary consul in St. Louis. He has done an extraordinary job for 40 years. If any Member of our Parliament visits St. Louis, he is the guy on the ground, the connected man and someone we can plug into, as it were. Perhaps the Minister of State should consider this suggestion.

I welcome the global civic forum. It is a great idea. Perhaps the Minister of State might invite members of this committee to attend. He is also working on the birthright proposal. It borrows what has worked in other countries, for example, Israel. The concept would be well received. I met Mr. Gidi Mark, head of Taglit-Birthright Israel. It formulated its programme as a business plan rather than a concept. It brought business leaders together and asked how it could be made to work and have a significant benefit to the Israeli community without being a large burden on the state. The concept arose approximately three decades ago and has been successful ever since.

The Minister of State is working on an interparliamentary gathering, but we need to be more formal. He is taking a great first step and the proposal is in the works, but I understand from my colleagues in other parliaments around the world that, as soon as they get elected, they are invited to countries like Israel and India. Such countries understand the importance of having good relationships with England, America and Canada. Taxpayers in Ireland might not believe it to be the greatest idea in the world. Congressman Paul Ryan, who was in Leinster House yesterday, is probably the most powerful politician in America, as he is in charge of the appropriations committee.

The Minister of State has mentioned the complex issue of the undocumented Irish, but he might also touch on the visa waiver issue that has arisen in recent weeks and the possibility of an Irish E-3. No comprehensive reform will happen in America for the next couple of years. People are holding out hope that, after the presidential election, something might happen. We should bear in mind that the Republicans control both Houses of Congress, so it does not matter who is President of the United States.

What matters is what can be done in Congress at this moment because that is not going to change a lot over the next few years.

On the 2016 commemorations and the idea of launching and engaging with the Irish overseas on that and the global programme, there is a concept that Congressman Brendan Boyle is taking up of having gardens of remembrance dedicated in 2016. That might be something the Minister of State might look at in terms of getting it out to the diaspora through our consulates.

We will discuss later the case of Ibrahim Halawa, an Irish citizen overseas. Does the Minister of State have any update on that for the committee?

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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We will be discussing the Ibrahim Halawa case afterwards, just in case the Minister of State does know anything.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Some very important issues were raised by the three members. Senator Walsh raised a point about connection with the GOP. Paul Ryan was here on a private visit and met the Taoiseach on Monday in an official capacity. Unfortunately, I had to go to Boston for the funeral of a friend of mine and did not meet him then, but I met him yesterday. He is an up-and-coming politician who ran for Vice President in the previous election. He is very favourable towards Ireland. In his offices, which Senator Daly has no doubt visited, the first thing to be seen is a hurley. That is not a surprise because he is a Kilkenny man. He is a well-grounded individual with a huge feeling for Ireland and I am sure he represents many more in the Republican Party. As we are also inclined towards and connected with the Democratic Party, we have to use our contacts there who are equally Irish, as we all know.

A critical individual at the moment is the chairman of the judiciary committee, Bob Goodlatte. His wife is from Connemara and he is very excited about the fact that his mother-in-law, whom I understand is a native Irish speaker, cooked the Sunday dinner for them. He is in a powerful position now. Trey Gowdy, who is chairman of the immigration sub-committee, is not from Ireland and has no connection but he is a very good friend of people like Mick Mulvaney who is a good friend of Senator Walsh's as well. We have great connections there which we must use as much as possible in the sense of communicating with these people and making them realise they are in pivotal positions for Ireland. We understand it is not easy but at the same time we would really appreciate it if they could help us.

The Senator also raised the issue of Seanad membership. Certainly that is quite interesting in terms of his views on Northern Ireland and some of his Unionist friends. I know Senator Walsh has gone out of his way to build up a relationship with both communities in Northern Ireland.

I am sure the committee has probably had the former Senator, Dr. Maurice Manning, before it. Has the Chairman been in discussions with him about Seanad reform? I do not want to determine the committee's business but I think it would be an interesting discussion. That is a major opportunity although we could not have all the diaspora voting to elect Members to the Seanad and then the Irish people having no vote on it. It would have to be universal. That would make a very interesting Seanad. The issue about voting in presidential elections and representation without taxation would be a major consideration.

The President in Ireland is a very important position. He is the commander of our armed forces and signs all Bills into law. He is Head of State. Numerous Taoisigh went to the UK in the past but when our President went, it was a totally different occasion. I would not underestimate the position of President in this country and I know the Senator does not want to either. We have been privileged with the calibre of President we have had over the years, in our present and the previous two Presidents but before that as well. If we can find a way, logistically and policy-wise, to extend the franchise, which I hope we will in the future, it is going to be a very important first step.

Senator Walsh raised the issue of chambers of commerce and that is something I identified myself. There is a professional network of Irish people around the world, and chambers of commerce are very well organised and very professional. They attract people from the business sector who want to help Ireland. The first people I met were the people from the chamber of commerce so we are working on a programme with Dublin Chamber of Commerce and others to see how they can connect with chambers of commerce around the world. I agree they are a very important connector with the Irish business world and we hope to continue to work with them and come up with programmes.

Regarding the vulnerable, the Irish abroad unit was set up in 2004 by the Government when Brian Cowen was the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and then the emigrant support programme was established. It was not just setting up a unit in the Department, there was also a fund there. This fund is one of the most generous in the world. Most of the budget has been put into emigrant welfare. The contribution to the UK since 2004, for example, has been about €84 million and to America something like €27 million. There have been huge contributions made to various Irish welfare centres around the world. We should recognise that even when this country was challenged, we continued to provide financial support for all those centres, and the reduction in funding was always something they could adjust to and take. Everywhere I have gone they have recognised that even though this country was really challenged financially and although we did share the pain here at home, we did not forget them. It was a major statement when we started experiencing our tough economic times in 2008 that we would continue to fund them. It shows the commitment by the previous Government and the current Government that our diaspora and vulnerable emigrants are important.

The Senator mentioned the support of the GAA. It is extraordinary what has happened with the GAA around the world. Irrespective of a person's background in sport, whether it is rugby or soccer or whatever, all young people who leave Ireland go to the GAA club in the place they go to.

The first time I travelled to play Gaelic football abroad was in 1970, a long time ago, and over the years I kept in contact with many of the people I met there. I happened to be part of a very successful team which made numerous trips to the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. At that time one attracted a different type of demographic, consisting mainly of older people, usually men. These days, the events I go to are mostly attended by young people and, in some cases, the majority is made up of women. Ladies' Gaelic football has taken off all over the world and is a very suitable field sport for women to play. They readily adapt to it and really enjoy it. Indeed, they often play it better than their menfolk, offering more open and skilful games. While the men's game is often too defensive, women's football is usually more attractive to watch. It is extraordinary how successful it has become.

The other game that has taken off all over the world is hurling. I launched a hurling team in Stanford last year which included nine individuals who had no Irish connections. When I saw a person with a Latino background striking the ball over the bar from 100 m out, I could see that hurling had really arrived.

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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That team will be challenging Kilkenny soon enough.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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This particular player had no Kilkenny genes in him at all.

Photo of Jim WalshJim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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What is really phenomenal is how native people, Asians and others, have engaged with clubs and taken up playing the games. It is extraordinary.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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It is very exciting. The GAA has done a tremendous job and is working very closely with us to advance its aims.

Recently there were a number of unfortunate tragedies in New York and elsewhere involving young Irish people who were experiencing mental health difficulties. I am delighted that we have recently begun working with Pieta House and the GAA in New York, under the auspices of the emigrant support programme, to put in place an initiative that could be copied in other parts of the world. Pieta House will provide its professional services in New York and we hope that can be expanded to other cities where young people are challenged in various ways. We are also working with Console and Immigration Counselling and Psychotherapy, ICAP, in London to develop programmes to assist people struggling with mental health and addiction problems.

Deputy Neville referred to the Palatines, who make up one of the several different Irish diasporas. The reason these people came to Ireland in the first place was to avoid religious persecution. Many of them settled in Limerick and Kerry, including the Hoffman family which came from Germany to Kerry 300 years ago. The Deputy mentioned Christy Switzer, who was my personal trainer at one stage. He is a great weight lifter and I went to his gym to build up my upper body. The Palatines made a huge contribution to that part of the world.

As I said in the Seanad some time ago, Senator Daly has made numerous contacts on Capitol Hill. That takes time and a great deal of patience, endurance, commitment and follow-up. Making connections does not happen easily. The Chairman, likewise, has built up some very good contacts in the US and elsewhere. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the important work done by Senator Daly and the Chairman and the commitment they have shown in this regard.

The question of extending the vote in presidential elections to Irish people living abroad has been discussed at length and there now is universal agreement in the Oireachtas that it should happen. There are decisions to be made, however, on who will be included on the register of electors, how and where people will vote, and so on. Those issues can and will be determined in due course and we have that space between now and the next presidential election to get it right. The matter will have to be decided by referendum because it involves a change in the Constitution. We have learned from what happened in the referenda on the future of the Seanad and the compellability of witnesses, for example, both of which were lost because a doubt was cast as to what would happen afterwards. We do not want that to happen when we put to the people the question of extending the vote. We must be very clear on who will be able to vote and all the other logistical issues. It would be the worst thing that could happen if that referendum were lost. We in the Oireachtas will not determine whether the vote will be extended to the diaspora; the people of Ireland will make that decision. When we go to them, we must be very clear on how it will be done. I hope to see that referendum taking place in due course.

The proposals regarding honorary consulates are good. People like Finbar Hill in Los Angeles have done extraordinary things. Joseph McGlynn, our mutual friend in St. Louis, is still cycling at 80 years of age and we would love to get him back for the Ring of Kerry race. He has given his life in St. Louis to Ireland in an honorary capacity and is proud to do so. He has built up a great connection with politicians from all sides of this House. When an Irish person goes over to St. Louis, it does not matter where he or she is from or which party he or she belongs to, that person is there to represent Ireland. Mr. McGlynn has been very effective over there. We will, of course, invite people to participate in the Global Civic Forum. Any members who are interested in attending will find it affords them a great opportunity to meet with many of these people. It is important that members should come.

The committee has a role to play in this policy and in working very closely with the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora, whoever that might be in the future. I would be delighted to come back here later in the year to let members know how things are going and what progress is being made. I have been travelling abroad as a politician for almost 30 years and it is my experience that when one goes abroad, people do not ask which party one belongs to. I have met people in all walks of life and from all backgrounds and they never ask me that question. They see me simply as an Irish politician representing this Parliament. We should all be proud to go out there wearing the green shirt and representing this country, leaving our differences behind. The global Irish diaspora policy gives us an agenda and action plan from which we can work collectively. I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to address the committee this morning.

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister. I also thank him for dealing with most of the questions in a comprehensive way.

I wish to acknowledge, on my behalf, the role of the honorary consulates. I have used their services in our travels. Therefore, I must compliment them on the excellent work that they do free or gratis on behalf of this country in the most remote areas, not just in cities, but all over the world.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I thank them too. Senator Daly mentioned that my Department should have more staff. Including Ms Emer Rocke who has accompanied me here this morning, I have a small unit of committed and dedicated staff which is what they have been since the Irish abroad unit was established. I wish to acknowledge that they are really committed individuals.

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Senator Daly and I do work on behalf of the undocumented Irish and we acknowledge the real interest taken by all committee members from all parties. We have travelled in delegations. The diaspora and undocumented Irish are very much part of our programme on an annual basis. We look forward to more interaction with the Minister in the coming year. We wish him and his staff well in the future.