James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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112. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the implementation of the Diaspora Strategy, 2020-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4393/23]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy, 2020-2025, sets out the Government’s vision for engaging with our diaspora communities around the world.

As we approach the half-way stage in the strategy’s five-year span, albeit one that was interrupted by the global pandemic, it is right that we would take stock of what has been achieved so far and the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad, which is charged with coordinating the implementation of the Strategy, will be meeting in the near future to do that.

The Diaspora Strategy will also be a key component of the third Global Irish Diaspora Forum, which will take place in Dublin Castle on 20-21 April.

At the heart of the vision set out in the Strategy is a commitment to support the welfare of the Irish abroad and to deepen and strengthen ties with our diaspora.

The Strategy makes it clear that ensuring the welfare of Irish diaspora communities remains at the heart of the Government’s diaspora support. That being the case, the Emigrant Support Programme continues to be the bedrock of our support for those communities.

The value of the support network that has been built up around the Emigrant Support Programme was never more evident than during our response to the global pandemic.  In response to the crisis, many of the Irish welfare, community and other organisations we support pivoted their activities to maintain services to the most vulnerable members of our diaspora communities, in particularly to the elderly. 

The Government was able to support these efforts to the tune of some €1.5 million through its dedicated Covid Response Fund for Irish Communities Abroad. That experience proved the inestimable value of the work that has been done over many years in supporting our emigrants and the importance of our having a coherent and effective diaspora policy.

The Diaspora Strategy does, of course, have a much broader sweep than ensuring the welfare of marginalised communities. It also focuses on deepening and strengthening our ties with our diaspora through cultural, social, economic and other avenues. 

Steady progress is being made in these areas, particularly post-pandemic, and my Department continues to support initiatives which further those objectives of the Strategy, including:

Back for Business, a programme to help Irish citizens who have returned to Ireland to start or develop a business;

-Global Irish Festival Series, which encourages Irish people living overseas to return home to visit Ireland;

-St. Brigid’s Day, the annual day of celebration of the talent and creativity  of Irish women all over the world.

-GAA Global Games Development Fund;

,support for Irish Studies programmes worldwide, doubling in 2022

along with the countless other Irish community initiatives and events which we support all over the world through our much-expanded mission network.

The Government is also, in line with the Strategy, looking at ways of harnessing the success and influence of Irish businesspeople all over the world and building on Ireland’s increasingly strong global cultural profile.

Good progress has been made, in challenging circumstances, in implementing the Diaspora Strategy 2020 – 2025. The Strategy still has almost three years to run and I very much look forward to seeing the further advances that will be made between now and 2025.