Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland’s Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025 is the cornerstone of our approach to diaspora engagement, setting out the Government’s vision for engaging with Irish diaspora communities all over the world.

The third Global Irish Civic Forum took place in Dublin Castle last April and the agenda was built around the five pillars of the Strategy - Our People, Values, Prosperity, Culture and Influence.

The feedback on the Strategy and its implementation from the more than 200 representatives of Irish diaspora organisations from 19 countries who attended the Forum was overwhelmingly positive, with contributors acknowledging the progress made under all five pillars, including in the community, culture and education spheres.

The Government’s steadfast commitment to addressing the welfare needs of our diaspora lies at the heart of the Strategy, given tangible expression through the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme (ESP).

The ESP has supported communities all over the world with grants of over €220 million since 2004 and its importance was underlined once more by participants at the Forum. Particular reference was made to the Covid pandemic, when the network of ESP recipient organisations enabled us to ensure swift and effective distribution of the Government’s special €1.5m Covid Response Fund for the Irish Abroad.

My Department also supports initiatives furthering other Strategy objectives, including:

• The joint GAA-DFA Global Games Development Fund
• Back for Business, a programme to help returning Irish emigrant entrepreneurs
• St. Brigid’s Day, the annual day of celebration of Irishwomen’s talent and creativity.
• Irish Studies programmes worldwide

The Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad, which I chair in my capacity as Minister of State, coordinates implementation of the Strategy. The Committee met most recently last March and will meet again later this month to further review progress and to discuss what else might be achieved during the lifetime of the Strategy.