Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State's report and thank him for it. I would have expected a little bit more on the actual delivery and focus on the progress that was made by the committee on the Irish abroad. I acknowledge that Sinn Féin moved a motion here last week, on 16 February, calling on the Minister with responsibility for the diaspora to update the House on the implementation of the global Irish diaspora policy with particular focus on progress. I concur with that.

I have tried to do some research on these matters. The diaspora policy refers to the global Irish, the interdepartmental committee and relevant stakeholders, but there is very little detail on the progress that has been made to date. I do not want to start on a negative point because I appreciate that the Minister of State is relatively new in his post. At some stage, however, we need to flesh out the detail of the policy.

I acknowledge the Taoiseach's brave decision to appoint my colleague, Senator Lawless, to this House after his outstanding commitment to the diaspora, which dates from long before he became a Senator. He is a very successful businessman who is very committed to the broader context of the diaspora. Let us be honest - the diaspora is not all about the undocumented Irish in America. We can come closer to home. A few weeks ago, I was in St. Martin-in-the-Fields church in the heart of London in Trafalgar Square. The Anglican community there is feeding young Irish teenagers aged 16 and 17. There are also 80 year olds. They run a famous centre in the heart of London which feeds the Irish. My own sister is involved in a help community in London which supports an Irish club that meets three days a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It is in a little place outside Bexley in Kent. They are offering lunch, fellowship and friendship to Irish men and women, many of whom are single or widowed and who cannot come home for various reasons. They are not getting support to come home. The support group is struggling to sell raffle tickets for bottles of wine to provide a few meals for Irish people living in London.

Too many people are hung up on the diaspora for the commercial, financial, business and industrial relationships, and the benefits it can bring to us. I can understand people wanting to tap into that. I would support it, but the diaspora is far bigger than the commercial impact it may bring to this country.

The Irish have an affinity to, and with, each other that is not bound or defined by geography or time. It is firmly rooted in the articles of our Constitution. The Minister of State will be familiar with Article 2 which states: "[...] the Irish nation cherishes its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad who share its cultural identity and heritage." There can be no more clear cut statement of the importance of the relationship between Ireland and its diaspora.

Over many generations large numbers of our people have had to leave Ireland and make their homes and lives elsewhere, but the bond between many of them is there to stay and is cherished. It will reconnect given time, opportunity and support.

I commend the work that is being done but we need to know more about what this interdepartmental committee is doing. I appeal to the Minister of State to re-examine a Bill that came before this House back in 2006. The Genealogy and Heritage Bill referred to the genealogy that is tied up with the diaspora. Much of this work was done by a colleague of mine, Councillor Michael Merrigan, who is involved in the Genealogical Society of Ireland. I would like the Minister of State to consider the contents of that Bill to see if there are aspects of it that we could revisit and bring back into legislation.

I thank the Minister of State for giving us his time.