Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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39. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of certificates of Irish heritage issued since the introduction of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19361/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Since the Certificate of Irish Heritage was introduced in September 2011, 2,760 Certificates have been issued. This is broken down as 2,492 Certificates sold and 268 promotional Certificates presented to various individuals during this time.With the vast majority of the global diaspora not eligible for Irish citizenship, the Certificate of Irish Heritage was introduced to recognise descendents of previous generations of Irish citizens in an official way and to give greater practical expression to the sense of Irish identity felt by many around the world. It is very clear from the positive reaction of those who have received a Certificate how much their heritage means to them. My Department will continue to work with Fexco (who operate the programme on our behalf) to promote the Certificate of Irish Heritage around the world.