Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Costello, to the House.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for dealing with the matter I raise. I am interested to find out how many certificates of Irish heritage have been issued and paid for since the scheme was initiated. I fully support the Irish heritage certificate scheme, which is a positive and innovative initiative. I am conscious that a number of high profile individuals have been recipients of the certificates, notably President Barack Obama, to whom a certificate was presented by the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and visiting Ministers during the recent St. Patrick's Day period in an event that generated positive media coverage for Ireland. The first certificate also generated positive coverage, although of a much more poignant nature as it was presented posthumously by the Tánaiste in September 2011 to Joseph Hunter, a New York fireman who died tragically in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre on 11 September 2001. The presentation to Mr. Hunter's family was a worthy beginning to the initiative.

I am curious to learn how many other certificates have been issued and what system is used for issuing them. I am conscious also that certificates have been presented to former President Bill Clinton and Lord Sebastian Coe. I learned from the relevant website that the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, issues a certificate on behalf of the Government. Certificates are presented to those who have ancestors born in Ireland but not to those who were born here and recipients must be aged over 18 years. People are also assisted in applying for certificates on the website. I read some of the customer testimonials which are very nice and several make the point that the certificates encourage people to come and visit Ireland. I saw one such testimonial from Argentina by a person who states, "I would like visit your Country...our Country!" The certificates certainly help people to feel a sense of affiliation with this country and if they generate positive trade and tourism links, the scheme will achieve its objective.

As I noted, I am curious to know how many certificates of Irish heritage have been issued and how many of them have been paid for. I am conscious that there is significant value in awarding the certificates free of charge and I anticipate that a considerable number of them will have been awarded by the Government. To give them away for free is in itself valuable if it generates positive publicity for us in other countries. I presume President Obama and former President Clinton did not pay for their certificates. There is immense value in having a facility to give away this type of certificate.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I thank the Acting Chairman, Senator Pat O'Neill, and Senator Bacik for their words of welcome. I also welcome Senator Bacik's remarks in support of the Irish heritage certificate scheme.

Since coming to office in March 2011, the Government has repeatedly stated its belief that our diaspora can make a meaningful contribution to Ireland's economic recovery. The Gathering, the Global Irish Network, the certificate of Irish heritage, the emigrant support programme, Connect Ireland and our support for local initiatives such as Ireland Reaching Out, are central to our goal of strengthening our links with the global Irish. The certificate of Irish heritage was developed in response to a strong demand from members of our diaspora. The proposal was included in the strategic review of Ireland-US relations produced by our ambassador to Washington in 2009. The idea was warmly received at the time by the Irish-American community and endorsed by participants at the 2009 Global Irish Economic Forum in Farmleigh.

The first certificate was presented by the Tánaiste in September 2011 to the family of Joseph Hunter, a New York fire fighter who lost his life on 11 September 2001. Mr. Hunter symbolised many of the traits of our diaspora. Although not born in Ireland, he embraced the heritage of his mother and father. His reputation and honest work in his parents' adopted home continue the trend of so many who went before him. Since then, presentations have been made to a number of well known individuals, including former President Clinton, President Obama and Lord Coe in London.

Vibrant Irish communities with a strong sense of their Irish heritage across the world have been essential in helping to rebuild Ireland in the past and I am sure they will continue to help in the current environment. The certificate is an appreciation of the strong and enduring connection to Ireland felt by many people. It is a sincere gesture on behalf of the Government and people of Ireland to reach out and acknowledge both individual connections, such as those of Joseph Hunter, and also the wider connections at community level. The certificate provides an opportunity for people to engage with Ireland and discover more about their history, their heritage and the country. We should encourage those families in the United States or Australia who want to sit down together and study the census records and birth certificates of grandmothers and great-grandmothers and see what their lives were like. Applying for a certificate, either for oneself or as a gift, provides an opportunity to do this.

To date, 682 certificates have been purchased and 58 have been issued as presentations or to competition winners. Our follow-up contact with some of the early recipients has shown a very positive and emotional response, particularly as the certificate was an official recognition by the Government of the recipient's heritage. The Irish abroad unit in my Department and Fexco, which operates the certificate programme on our behalf, remain in ongoing contact on the operation of the certificate and, in particular, to increasing awareness of its existence. In response to market research, several upgrades have been introduced to enhance the process and product. We will continue to work with all relevant partners to ensure the ongoing success of the certificate.

Ivana Bacik (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for his full response in providing the relevant figures and more information on the background to the Irish heritage certificates. As I noted, the scheme is a worthwhile and valuable initiative. The Minister of State referred to market research. Is it planned to market and publicise the certificates more widely to encourage increased take-up from other countries? I presume such efforts are being undertaken in conjunction with the Gathering event to be held next year.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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While I cannot provide a direct answer to the Senator's question, I will revert to her on the matter. I presume work is being done on this issue. A different Department is responsible for the Gathering and it deals with the marketing of the event. Marking and highlighting the Irish heritage of people is integral to the certificate of Irish heritage scheme. As the Gathering is focused on bringing people of Irish ancestry to this country, I expect the scheme to be a strong focus of the work being done in that area. I will obtain the information the Senator seeks.