Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

In a week when the focus will be on Ireland and when Government representatives and colleagues from both Houses will be travelling to destinations across the globe, does the Leader agree that it would be opportune to have a debate on emigrant issues following the recess? It would be particularly apt to hold such a debate in light of the significant increase in funding the Government has provided in recent weeks which has been disbursed by DION to Irish organisations in the UK. The Leader is, like other Senators and me, a member of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and she will be aware that a delegation from that committee recently visited London and Birmingham to witness, at first hand, the issues with which Irish people there are faced. We may be enjoying the fruits of the Celtic tiger economy but there are matters relating to the Irish diaspora which remain to be dealt with.

It is a credit to the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, who implemented much of the task force report on emigration, which was debated in the House——