Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 190: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has identified diaspora to partake in the initiative referenced in item 5.9 of the action plan for jobs; the numbers involved; if not identified, when this will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20083/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Under item 5.9 of the Action Plan for Jobs, the Government will "utilise the Global Irish Network as official advocates of new and expanded FDI investment in Ireland including introductory meetings, briefings and establishing a restricted website access portal on IDA Ireland website to provide communication and information to relevant Diaspora." During the Second Global Irish Economic Forum, I announced my intention to establish a Register of Advocates in six specific sectors: Foreign Direct Investment; the financial services sector; the promotion of culture abroad; tourism; assisting Irish exporting companies; and Ireland's international reputation. To date, some 130 members of the Global Irish Network have signed up to be Advocates, 52 of them on the Foreign Direct Investment register.

The Advocates are tasked with providing advice and assistance to the Government, State Agencies and Irish companies within their geographic areas. To date, Network members have worked with us on the Invest in Ireland Roundtable with President Clinton, the recent programme of St Patrick's Day visits and the Taoiseach's visit to China.

I understand that the restricted website portal referred to in the Jobs Plan is currently being developed by IDA Ireland and will be live shortly.