Seanad debates

Wednesday, 21 September 2011

Heritage certificates will be important. The Irish diaspora in America has reduced in number from 40 million to 30 million but there are 70 million throughout the world. In the UK, people were reluctant to put down their nationality as Irish but a major campaign was undertaken prior to this year's census to encourage people to do so and that will change everything. The figure mentioned at the time for those of Irish descent living in the UK was 3 million but that could increase considerably. In Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, we do not have the same problems with nationality and identity. For example, a huge number of Irish people attended last Saturday's match in Auckland but most of them did not travel from Ireland for the game. They travelled from Sydney, Melbourne and so on in Australia and from elsewhere in New Zealand. It brought home the number of young people who have left the country. The diaspora is interested in the country. Farmleigh MK 1 reached out to them and Farmleigh MK 2 will be an extension of that. The connection I have been working on for a long time is critically important for the country at this time to reach out to our diaspora who are more than willing to help us. There is great goodwill towards us in the international community, especially among our diaspora. People feel they are from the soil of Ireland and they have an attachment to the country. The heritage certificate must show a connection to Ireland and a person must be identified. Senator Daly has been involved over the years in helping Brian McCarthy and FEXCO to develop this project. That must be recognised.

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