Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The Government takes a broad and inclusive approach when it comes to defining our global community. The Irish diaspora is not limited to Irish-born people living overseas or to those who have activated Irish citizenship. Instead, it encompasses all those who believe they are of Irish descent and feel a sense of affinity with this country. I believe it is essential that we in Ireland value and affirm the validity of this sense of Irishness, felt by so many people abroad.

Although it is not possible to put a precise figure on the numbers, it is widely estimated that up to 70 million people consider themselves to be part of the global Irish community. The most recent US census recorded 42 million US residents who claimed Irish origins; this includes 6 million who claim Scotch-Irish origins. A total of 124,000 Irish-born US residents were counted. The 2001 census in Britain showed that there were 750,000 Irish-born people living in Britain and it is estimated that a further 1.7 million people are born to Irish parents. There are also significant numbers of people with Irish ancestry living in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Canada. In 2009, some 580,000 Irish passports were issued, with 81,000 of these issued through our diplomatic missions abroad.

Supporting Irish communities abroad is a priority for the Government. Since 2004, almost €70 million has been allocated, cumulatively, through the emigrant support programme, mainly to Irish community organisations throughout the world. Despite the difficult economic position, a further €13 million has been allocated to the emigrant support programme for 2010.

The Government has also developed new initiatives aimed at creating a more strategic relationship with the global Irish, particularly in the economic sector. The Global Irish Economic Forum and the subsequent establishment of the Global Irish Network clearly demonstrate our commitment to achieving this objective.

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