Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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589. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps being taken in the diaspora policy to engage and support the Irish LGBT plus community abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12974/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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“Global Irish,” Ireland’s Diaspora policy, encompasses all Irish communities overseas. As this policy was launched two years ago the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently reviewing the implementation of the policy, and how we can better and more effectively implement the policy to the benefit of all our citizens and diaspora around the world. The stated vision of the Policy is for a “vibrant, diverse Global Irish community, connected to Ireland and to each other.” One of the means through which the Department supports this is through the Emigrant Support Programme. This Programme, established in 2004, has always been available for suitable projects addressing the needs of Irish communities abroad, including members of the Irish LGBTQI community abroad. In recent years the Emigrant Support Programme has through its funding supported LGBTQI projects in the USA and in Britain.

In 2016 the Presidential Distinguished Service Award was also awarded to New York based activists Brendan Fay and Kathleen Walsh D’Arcy for their work on LGBTQI community support. This Presidential Distinguished Service Award recognises the service given to this country or to Irish communities abroad by those who live outside Ireland. The Awards for Mr Fay and Ms Walsh D’Arcy marks the significance of their work in New York with the St. Pats For All parade and LGBTQI group Lavender and Green. I, along with the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Diaspora, was delighted to be there on the night when President Higgins made the presentation, and we are rightfully proud as a nation of their great work over many years.

My Department is currently preparing for the second Global Irish Civic Forum which will be an important opportunity for dialogue for Irish community organisations abroad, both with the Government and between themselves. I am pleased to hear from my officials in the Irish Abroad Unit that people representing the LGBTQI community both in the United States and in Britain have already registered to attend the upcoming Global Irish Civic Forum.

Similarly my officials in the Department’s Consular Unit have been actively engaging with LGBTQI groups in Ireland to see how the Department can mainstream their concerns and needs into the Department’s consular work. The Consular Unit and Irish Abroad Unit, which sit in the same Division, are liaising with each other on efforts to continue to support LGBTQI members of Ireland’s diaspora and this is a welcome development.

My officials and Ireland’s Missions around the world will continue to value, promote and support the vision of a vibrant, diverse and connected Global Irish community. The current review of the implementation of the Diaspora Policy seeks to improve how we do this and I would like to thank you for supporting and engaging with our efforts.