Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I am responding to the Deputy's question. It is not necessary to have a specific Department dealing with this issue. A Minister of State should be responsible for a unit in a particular Department where all these areas could be co-ordinated. That is important. Joined up thinking is required. There is a good deal of co-ordination, although perhaps there could be more.

In the Department of Foreign Affairs there is the Irish Abroad unit which was set up in recent years. That unit has worked exceedingly well. It co-ordinates all the activities pertaining to our emigrants across the world. It does excellent work, is focused and responds to the Minister on issues. There is no reason a similar unit could not be set up in another Department to deal with immigration issues. That would be important and it would assist matters.

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