Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister of State on his new portfolio. It is a really interesting role and is one that I know he is very interested in. I wish him the best of luck in it because it is important for everyone that he is successful.

The Irish diaspora is a unique feature of our historical and cultural identity and is crucial to our global influence and political future. Irish men and women have contributed massively to countries across the world with places like the United States, Australia, and Argentina, deriving much of their ancestry from Ireland. During the revolutionary period 100 years ago the Irish diaspora in America in particular was crucial in supporting our struggle for independence in political and material terms. Likewise, Irish-Americans played a critical role in our recent peace process and the achievement of the Good Friday Agreement.

The diaspora continues to be a vital and often under-appreciated part of the Irish nation, with many of our finest citizens having their roots abroad but coming from Irish ancestry. A good example of this is our national football team, many of whom were born abroad but chose to play for Ireland due to the strength of their heritage. However, we should recognise that the existence of our diaspora is a result of both historical and current injustice. In the nineteenth century it was British colonial rule that forced people to go abroad.Today, it is the housing crisis, poverty and inequality that drive people away. Thousands of young people continue to emigrate in search of better opportunities and brighter futures. Practically every family has a daughter, son or extended family member who has been forced to move to countries like Australia, Germany or the United States to find better jobs and more affordable rent. Nearly two centuries since the Famine, the fact that so many of our young people still feel compelled to move abroad in search of work and better living conditions is a glaring indictment of the State's failure to live up to the ideals of the 1916 Proclamation. The Government must ensure that this new diaspora is supported while living abroad, but also work to build an Ireland that these young people are able to return home to and thrive in.

It is worth recognising that Ireland's diaspora continues to give us a global voice beyond that typical of an island of 7 million people. With the Taoiseach and Tánaiste's upcoming visits to Washington, we must use Ireland's position and leverage to ensure that the plight of Palestinians is heard. They need to make clear that Ireland will not accept America's genocidal actions in the Middle East. Ireland's global diaspora, like that of the Palestinians, was the result of ethnic cleansing and forced migration. This shared experience gives us a unique perspective in the western world and we must not forget our responsibility to stand up for those people who are oppressed.

With the rise of fascism, particularly in the United States and Israel, the Taoiseach must take urgent action to ensure that Ireland and its diaspora remain a force for peace and human rights.