Ms Aileen Leonard Dibra:

We briefly touched on it.

When people, whether documented or undocumented, were stuck here, the typical trip home during the summer or holidays did not happen. I am referring to the idea of not being able to get to loved ones. The diaspora here is a transient one and its members go home, see family and make visits over the summer. That all stopped. On the mindset change of people who had the ability to travel but who could not, the resources of people who were undocumented were so limited. People who had lived here for many years undocumented and did quite well were cut off at the knees to a certain extent in that they were blowing through savings, their businesses were shut down and there was no social network here financially helping them. Many thanks are due to the Irish Government for the critical supports it put in place to help those particular people. This really gave a number of the undocumented population a lifeline when no one else was giving it. Well done to the Irish Government on that. I thank it for that added support we got.

I agree there was a change in mindset. I believe this mindset still features. Crosscare Migrant Project and the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers have spoken about this. Even though things are opening up and sectors across the board are doing much better here, albeit with the inflation that is occurring worldwide, people still ask whether they want to be back with family and in circumstances again in which they cannot get home if they need or want to. It is in this context we are receiving at the centres some of these inquiries regarding planned returns. Again, there has been a levelling off but the thinking still features and is still part of the mindset of many of our community members.

On behalf of Mr. Staunton, who had to leave early, Ms Kennelly and myself, I must add it is always a pleasure to speak to all the committee members and present information we gather at national level from our membership, which works non-stop to provide supports to the Irish diaspora – Irish immigrants here in the United States – providing holistic and really culturally competent support. The immigrants know they can come to our centres and be in a safe place with people who understand them and the nuances of language. It is a matter of sitting down, having a cup of tea and discussing the issues at hand, no matter what they might be. Part of that is the process of returning home. We are thrilled to have this ongoing and long-term partnership and collaboration with our friends at Crosscare Migrant Project, and that is part of the wrap-around service so many of the Deputies have brought up. In the context of starting here in the US and transitioning back to Ireland, we have colleagues we can rely on, and they know they have colleagues here they can rely on to share the relevant information and to be as up to date as possible to help with the transitions, which only makes things more smooth.

We are happy to provide any additional information that may be helpful to the committee as it moves forward with its work, and we would very much value and love further engagement and discussion as these things move forward. As Mr. King said, we are thankful for the funding and happy to put as much value on the investment as we possibly can for the committee members, the Irish Government in general and, most important, the Irish diaspora or community members we all serve here in the US.