Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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121. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the achievements of the previous global economic forums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15885/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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There have been three Global Irish Economic Forums held to date in 2009, 2011 and 2013. The fourth Global Irish Economic Forum will take place from 19 – 21 November, 2015. The first Forum in 2009 was convened by the previous Government in response to the economic crisis that the country was facing. This Forum developed a new and more strategic level of engagement with the most influential members of the Irish diaspora. One of the most significant recommendations to come from this was the establishment in 2010 of the Global Irish Network. The Global Irish Network is a group of approximately 350 of the most influential Irish or Irish-connected individuals based in almost 40 countries worldwide. This Network is an invaluable resource to the Government and works closely with our embassies, consulates and state agencies around the world.The Global Irish Network has been convened twice since it was established at the Global Irish Economic Forum in 2011 and 2013. In addition a number of regional meetings of the Network have also taken place.

The Forum themes and outcomes have been closely aligned with the Action Plan for Jobs process. The Forums held in 2009 and 2011 were focused primarily on recovery, reputation building and job creation and a number of the initiatives that came out of these are still helping to create jobs in Ireland today including:

- Over 120 members of the Global Irish Network take part in the Global Irish Contacts Programme managed by Enterprise Ireland. This Programme directly links the diaspora with Irish companies looking to achieve international growth.

- Greater involvement of local Network members in the planning and organisation of trade missions in their respective regions. Network members were involved in the Invest in Ireland roundtable hosted by President Clinton in New York in 2012, and they are involved in the planning of high level visits abroad and Enterprise Ireland organised trade missions.

- The launch of ConnectIreland, which aims to create 5,000 jobs in five years, the first 1,000 of which have already been created.

In addition a number of other initiatives were established to recognise and celebrate the contributions of the Irish diaspora:

- The establishment of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad.

- The establishment of the Certificate of Irish Heritage.

- The launch of the Gathering held in 2013 which saw over 5,000 gatherings held across Ireland, bringing 250 – 275,000 additional overseas visitors worth approximately €170m in revenue to the economy.

The 2013 Forum took place in a different context to its two predecessors, looking to the future in the context of a country that has come through crisis with a restored reputation. Among the recommendations from the 2013 Forum that are complete or have been significantly advanced are:

- Irish Design 2015, which is showcasing the best of Irish design both at home and internationally throughout 2015;

- Considering whether Ireland can have a competitive advantage in the area of Smart Ageing;

- The launch of an agency to market Irish agri-business expertise globally;

- Inviting Global Irish Network members to bring conferences to Ireland; and

- The placement of Origin Green ambassadors in international businesses.

While most of the initiatives recommended at previous Forum have been advanced by Government, some of the ideas generated have been led by members of the Global Irish Network. Once such initiative which came from the first Forum in 2009 is Uversity - a Recognised College of the National University of Ireland. Uversity offers a Master of Arts in Creative Process and has been founded by twenty four higher education institutions across the island of Ireland.

The above is a flavour of the achievements of previous Forums and full details and reports of these can be found at