Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The time of year is looming when St. Patrick’s Day approaches and officeholders of this House, the other House and Ministers of the Government visit all over the world, showcase all that is good about Ireland and, importantly, meet the diaspora in those countries. We have a debt to our Irish diaspora in the sense that they are our own kinship and they had to off and leave in difficult times. Apart from that, they are a great resource for Ireland abroad, they are great ambassadors for Ireland, they are very good at marketing Ireland abroad, they are very good lobbyists for Ireland abroad and they are very good at showcasing Ireland. They are actively promoting Ireland abroad. They maintain a loyalty to the home country and a patriotism. It is quite wonderful.

In light of that, I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on the role of the Irish diaspora internationally, how we can tap in more to the resource that they are, how we can be supportive of them and how we can have tighter links with them. It is incumbent on us to have this debate. I ask the Leader to request the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora, Deputy Richmond, to come in for this debate. If we could have it before St. Patrick’s Day, it would be much more apt, so people in this Chamber of all political parties and none could come forward and give their ideas of what should be said to the diaspora, what we should be asking from the diaspora and what we should be offering the diaspora.

I had occasion last year to meet the Cavan diaspora in New York and join them on their parade. I was accompanied on that occasion by newly elected Senator Sarah O’Reilly, among others. We all did it in our own time and of our own initiative. It was wonderful. They were delighted we were there to help to lead the parade. We immensely enjoyed meeting them and interacting with them. If Sarah were addressing this question on another occasion, I think she would testify to how impactful and valuable it was in terms of the tourism product and potential investment in this country, for example. It is an important link. The thing I have most enjoyed in my public life down the years have been the visits to our diaspora, whether it is in London, Luton or right through America. It is very special.

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, who is a distinguished former Member of this House, to discuss this topic here. I think he will bring great energy to his new Department. If we could do it before St. Patrick’s Day, it would make more sense.