Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the estimated number of Irish diaspora. [7359/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The figure of 72 million people whom the Minister estimates have Irish connections is startling, although the criteria for the categorisation is rather broad in that people who feel they are Irish are also included. Many people who feel they are Irish may have no Irish connections but everyone is welcome. It is a resource that we should tap into and utilise.

The Minister set up the conference in Farmleigh and I understand the Global Irish Network has approximately 280 members. I assume the majority of those come from North America, and the United States in particular. Can the Minister give me any indication of the membership of the Global Irish Network, including its areas of expertise, because in trying to utilise this resource it is important that we look east and west rather than confining ourselves to the United States? Has the network put forward any proposals and strategies for the future? Has the Department brought forward any initiatives following the meeting in Farmleigh?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Minister indicated in his response that more than 500,000 passports were issued last year, with approximately 81,000 of those issued through the diplomatic service abroad. I understand an extraordinarily high figure of some 35,200 passports were either lost, stolen or misplaced up to 4 December 2009. Has the Minister any indication of how many of these lost passports are part of the 81,000 issued abroad? Has he any proposals to reduce the number of misplaced passports, which equates to almost 7% of the 500,000 issued? It is worrying that more than 35,000 passports have fallen out of their owners' hands at a time when there are such concerns about international terrorism and security. That figure is startling.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy has been creative in his supplementary question, but I will allow it.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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He is in a very creative mood this afternoon.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My question followed on from the Minister's reply.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I expected the Deputy to have more detailed questions on the diaspora, but he has moved quickly to specific questions about passports. I will return to the House with detailed figures regarding the numbers lost and believed stolen. We must be cautious about drawing conclusions, particularly in respect of terrorism and so on. It is important to maintain perspective. I assure the Deputy that significant prioritisation is given to security aspects of passport production and so on. That is why it is retained in-house within the Department.