John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps that have been taken to stay connected with participants in the Global Irish Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50185/12]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress that has been made since the initiation of the Global Irish Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50184/12]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps that have been taken to measure the economic impact of the Global Irish Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50187/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 26 and 28 together.

Since coming to office in March 2011 I have repeatedly stated my belief that the Diaspora can make a meaningful contribution to Ireland’s economic recovery. The Global Irish Network is a central element of the Government’s engagement with the Diaspora in support of our economic goals. On 26 October 2012 last I published the 12 month progress report on the forum which can be viewed on . The Deputies will wish to note that the Comptroller and Auditor General reviewed the forum in his report of September 2011. The close alignment of the forum’s outcomes with key Government objectives, including the Action Plan for Jobs, has ensured that significant progress has been made in respect of all the key outcomes. The report clearly demonstrates the ability of the network to deliver real, tangible economic benefits for the Irish at home and abroad in priority areas such as job creation, inward investment, support for the SME and export sectors and enhancing our international reputation. In addition, we have been able to leverage the expertise and experience of the network in the agrifood and education sectors, all of which can benefit from enhanced partnership between the State’s agencies and the Diaspora.

Progress is reported in the report in respect of a number of areas, including the establishment of the global Irish contacts programme, which directly links the Diaspora with Irish companies seeking to achieve international growth and to which 100 participants have signed up; Global Irish Network members across the globe are working with the tourism promotion agencies to promote The Gathering Ireland 2013 overseas and organising diaspora-related events in Ireland such the Spar international annual conference in Killarney and the "Silicon Valley Comes to Ireland" event in Cork in January 2013; the launch of ConnectIreland, which aims to create 5,000 jobs in the next five years - approximately 300 companies have been suggested to ConnectIreland from people all over the world since the initiative was launched in March 2012; directly facilitating job creation through the hosting of an "Invest in Ireland" round-table event with former President Clinton in New York and Dublin to coincide with the Navy versus Notre Dame American football game; 130 forum participants registered to become advocates for Ireland in sectors such as foreign direct investment, FDI, support for exporters, tourism, and culture; greater involvement of local network members in the planning and organising of trade missions in their respective regions - these members were involved in the "Invest in Ireland" round-table event in New York in February, the Taoiseach’s visit to China and all other Enterprise Ireland organised trade missions in 2012; and the expansion of the Farmleigh fellowship programme in Asia. Some 45 fellows will have completed the latter by the end of 2012.

The establishment of the Global Irish Network was an innovative and ambitious undertaking by my Department that has given far greater strategic direction and coherence to the manner in which the Government engages with our most senior Irish contacts across the globe. In addition to contributing to initiatives such as the global Irish contacts programme, The Gathering and ConnectIreland, the network has proved to be particularly effective as a source of structured advice from key players in priority markets and sectors and within multinational companies. The programme has also facilitated high level access for the Government and Irish companies to decision-makers in major corporations.

In response to the strong wish among participants to be kept fully informed of developments, the Taoiseach and I now issue regular e-newsletters to them. These short e-mails update network members on economic developments in Ireland and the progress being made in respect of the forum's outcomes. I also established the advisory group of the Global Irish Network, which includes 19 members of the network from each of the main geographic areas represented at the 2011 forum. This group is charged with reviewing progress on the forum outcomes, co-ordinating the overall work programme for the Global Irish Network and working with our ambassadors in keeping the wider network informed of developments. Its first meeting took place in Dublin on 11 July.

I hosted a meeting of European network members at the Embassy of Ireland in Berlin on 26 October. This meeting brought together participants based in continental Europe, Russia and Turkey and provided an opportunity to examine the specific economic challenges and opportunities that exist for Ireland in the region and obtain their views on how the network can contribute to our goals.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Tánaiste for his detailed reply. The Global Irish Forum is an extremely worthwhile body. It was established relatively recently. To the best of my recollection, its first meeting took place at the end of September 2009 when Deputy Micheál Martin was Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Gathering, ConnectIreland and the other specific initiatives to which the Tánaiste referred are also extremely worthwhile. As he indicated, the Irish Diaspora is not confined to London, Birmingham, Coventry, New York, Boston or wherever. Its members are located in other cities in many other countries on different continents. We have important connections with those to whom I refer and these must be nurtured. We must maintain constant contact with the Diaspora.

One matter to which we often understandably refer is the importance of foreign direct investment. Outward direct investment is also important. Many Irish indigenous companies have grown to become multinational corporations. There is no longer that big a difference between the number of American people employed by Irish companies operating in the United States and the number of Irish people employed by US companies operating here. The fora to which the Tánaiste referred are all important in the context of maintaining opportunities for foreign direct investment into Ireland and outward direct investment from here, underpinning the process of networking and facilitating real engagement. Such engagement should not just take the form of getting together once a year, it should also involve ongoing contact that can enable the creation of additional business that will be of benefit to Irish people at home and abroad.

We have developed this network quite considerably since the initial meeting which took place in Farmleigh in 2009 and which was convened by my predecessor, Deputy Martin, the leader of Fianna Fáil. As the Deputy noted, the network has great potential. The flow of investment is a two-way process. Approximately 100,000 Irish people are directly employed in American companies investing in Ireland. What is not so well known is that approximately 85,000 American people are employed in Irish companies investing in the United States. The same applies to our trade with Britain which currently is worth about €1 billion a week.

The forum is enabling us to access leaders in the corporate sector and leaders in communications and education. It has been a very successful network and we are examining ways in which it can be developed further. This morning, I had a meeting with a delegation from the United States comprised of senior advisers to Secretary of State Clinton. Because they want to develop the American diaspora and network they are interested in working closely with us because they recognise that we have done pioneering work in this area. The Global Irish Network is very much a pioneering forum for developing a network of people around the world which will be to our advantage. These are Irish, well placed people with an attitude of goodwill towards this country.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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It is important to ensure the members of the Diaspora feel part of this development. Their views and ideas need to be taken on board. It is surprising that it is only a recent initiative because members of the Irish Diaspora always ask about home. They are willing to help out. The initiative has been slow in its initial phase but it has potential. However, this needs to be a long-term policy to be continued by future Governments. So many people consider themselves part of the Irish story and they want to help. There should be a role for these people in the future development of the economy.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The population of the State is approximately 4.6 million, according to the last census. Approximately 70 million people throughout the world claim Irish heritage and there are 40 million people in the United States. It is a huge network. The traditional events such as St. Patrick's Day events are very important and they gather a big catchment of people.

We have involved people who are well placed in the world of business and it has a number of advantages for us. These are people who sit on the boards of directors of companies considering investment decisions. Very often it is the Irish connection that turns the key decision our way. Opportunities for trade are opened up. Ireland is an exporting country which exports 80% of everything it produces. Having people with an attitude of goodwill towards this country who can open doors for companies and help to develop new markets is very important.

Ireland has a joint economic commission with Russia which deals with trade. The education sector is a growing market in Russia and also in Brazil. The President visited Brazil accompanied by the Minister of State, Deputy Joe Costello. An agreement was concluded to bring 5,000 students from Brazil to Ireland to participate in education in our universities. The potential is endless. I am committed to expanding our reach among the diaspora. I want to mobilise the Diaspora to help the country, particularly at an economically difficult time. There is a great level of goodwill for this country among the members of the Irish Diaspora and it would be a great mistake not to harness it.