John O'Mahony (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to contribute to this debate. I welcome the Minister of State and compliment him on the work that he is doing. I urge him to keep connecting with our diaspora abroad just like his predecessors, Deputy McHugh, and before him the former Minister of State, Jimmy Deenihan.

As other speakers have said, it is important that the Government places great emphasis on connecting with our diaspora abroad. Being an island nation, emigration has been a feature of this country for hundreds of years. Often in the past there was forced emigration because there was no way to make a livelihood here, a lack of job opportunities and the economy was in a poor state. Thankfully, in recent times, emigration has been more of a lifestyle choice. Young people, students and graduates, etc., wish to travel and broaden their horizons before, hopefully, returning home, or many of them returning, at some stage. I agree with previous Senators who mentioned that there is a need to provide a smooth passage when emigrants wish to return. Sometimes there are obstacles that prevent their return. Whatever must be done or needs to be done should be done because returning emigrants are a great resource and make a great contribution to this country. The Minister of State has spoken about the matter. I very much welcome the announcement that there will be an increase in funding for the emigrant support programme. I also very much welcome the prospect of a referendum and votes for our diaspora in the presidential election.

The undocumented Irish has been an ongoing issue, which appears at times to be on the threshold of being solved but all of a sudden there is a setback. It is important to progress the issue at every level. I was glad to see that Deputy Deasy was appointed to try and work on the project. It is important that whatever can be done is done by our Government and for people to come up with a better solution for all of the undocumented Irish.

Many of my trips abroad have been in a sporting or GAA context so I have seen at first hand the connection that Irish people have with culture, music, language and games. Such connection becomes so important. What amazes me sometimes is that one would never realise that people had such interests when one met them here before they went abroad. The discussion that one has with emigrants when they are abroad contrasts greatly with what one had at home. Their interest in culture, for example, might have been latent here but it very much moves to the top of their agenda when they go abroad. Therefore, it is crucial that we connect with our emigrants and support them.

Last May I attended the Connacht GAA senior football championship game between Leitrim and New York in New York. On the Monday evening I decided to go for a walk in a forest. Along the way I heard games being played and wondered whether baseball or whatever was being played. My curiosity got to me and I discovered a group of adults coaching 40 young children in Gaelic football. I chatted to the people and participated in some of the events. I was amazed that such a thing was happening in a park near Yonkers in New York. The adults were Irish emigrants who had done well. Their kids were being coached in Gaelic football and they wore various club and county jerseys from Ireland. I understand there are 400 GAA clubs all over the world and the GAA is very supportive of the initiative. Only in the last few weeks I connected the GAA with a group in Sarajevo who are having an Irish festival on St. Patrick's weekend. The GAA will organise a coaching session on the day for the children of the diaspora. The GAA has a unit that supports such promotion, which is tremendous to hear.

I do not know where we are with the diaspora abroad in terms of other countries. From my experience of travelling abroad I have realised that this is such a small world and there are many Irish connections everywhere. Long may it continue that the Government, through the Minister of State and various Departments, continues to reach out, embrace and support our diaspora abroad.