Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is correct that the Global Irish Network has had close to 300 responses. I will get back to him on the precise figures in terms of the breakdown per destination, but I understand a substantial proportion are from the United States, United Kingdom, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. We launched the network only the week before last, during a one-day trip to London which took place as the marathon talks at Hillsborough were coming to an end.

As is the case with the conference at Farmleigh, our objective is to listen to what members of the network tell us in terms of how they envisage an engagement with Ireland and how that might add value to Irish economic, cultural and social thinking and artistic endeavour. We must not begin by being overly prescriptive. Having said that, our fundamental objective is that the network should have an advisory role in terms of providing solid ideas on how the Government should tackle various issues and identifying trends in technology and the markets that can be of value to us. The people involved are at the cutting edge of various sectors of industry and have a contribution to make in that respect. Following on from that, the other general objective is to develop an effective network that will assist the indigenous sector of the economy by providing advice to people who are endeavouring to penetrate foreign markets.

See this speech in context