Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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71. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the specific actions which will be taken following the publication of the economic report on addressing the challenges faced by returning Irish emigrants; if there is a timeline for implementing the recommendations made in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14212/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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On foot of the work last year by the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Irish Abroad which is chaired by the Minister of State for the Diaspora, my colleague Ciaran Cannon TD, my Department commissioned an independent economic report on difficulties experienced by Irish people returning home. This report has now been completed and considered by Government, and has been published on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website. The report reviews these matters in detail and has made thirty targeted recommendations across nine thematic areas that fall under the responsibility of different Departments.

The Report has been formally circulated to relevant Departments and Agencies, and responses requested. The responses received from Departments will feed into an Action Plan, progress on which will be considered by the Inter-departmental Committee on the Irish Abroad, with the matter due to return to Government again in May.

This Government has committed to making it as easy as possible for Irish emigrants to return home. Reducing barriers to returning emigrants has important implications for national competitiveness; in a growing Irish economy facilitating the return of skills will be of importance in sustaining economic growth and will support the development of both indigenous and foreign internationally traded investment.