Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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185. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he can encourage the return of Irish emigrants currently based abroad with a view to meeting the workplace requirements in terms of extra staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61074/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I refer the deputy to my responses to this question on 2nd November 2021 and 15th September 2021, which are reproduced below.

In the Government's Diaspora Strategy, which was launched in late 2020, a number of actions have been set out to strengthen our connections with diaspora communities and to harness the contribution from the diaspora to support economic recovery. The Department of Foreign Affairs leads on the implementation of this strategy.

The strategy recognises how returning emigrants bring with them skills and knowledge gained abroad that can help develop both the national and local economies. To support this, the Government also recognises the need to minimise the challenges faced by individuals and families returning to Ireland.

The strategy commits to a number of actions to support the return of members of the diaspora. These include monitoring barriers to return and adopting measures to remove them where possible; the negotiation of reciprocal agreements with countries that are home to significant Irish diaspora communities, such as double taxation and social security agreements; improvement of the provision of information on returning to Ireland and providing information for Irish citizens living overseas, including the dissemination of information on skills needs; and the expansion of mutual recognition and the portability of academic or professional qualifications earned overseas.

The deputy may wish to seek an update from the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the implementation of these actions.