Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the plans he is considering to give voting rights to the diaspora; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44841/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Further to PQ 44118/25, I can confirm that I am continuing an extensive consultation process to inform the development of our next Diaspora Strategy, which will launch at the Global Irish Civic Forum in April 2026.

This consultation exercise has involved meeting with diaspora organisations at home and abroad. In June, I hosted a roundtable discussion in Iveagh House to hear from my fellow Oireachtas members and I have also led in-person discussions with community groups overseas, including in Nairobi, Brussels, Boston, Philadelphia, Manchester, Glasgow and London. As recently as last week, I travelled to the United Arab Emirates to meet with political, business and community partners.

These in-person consultations are being supplemented by an online consultation, the Global Irish Survey, which was open throughout the summer and concluded on the 31 August 2025.

These consultations, both in person and online, have been positive and warmly welcomed and provide a platform to hear from our communities overseas on a wide range of issues of interest to them, including, on occasion, the issue of voting rights.

As I noted recently in the Dáil, extending voting rights to citizens outside this jurisdiction would require a referendum and the Government continues to reflect on the matter.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to consider introducing and supporting an annual national weekend for our diaspora, whereby each county will be assisted in hosting a programme of events that will boost the local economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44842/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade works to engage with our communities abroad and, in the past, has partnered with Fáilte Ireland to deliver the Global Irish Festival Series. This initiative encourages Irish people living abroad to return home to visit Ireland and provides funding and support, through local authorities, for events that tap into international diaspora networks. In 2024 the Department provided in the region of €50,000 to support this Festival Series with a programme of events taking place in Kerry and Mayo. A total of 52,000 visitors attended the Global Irish Festival Series in 2024.

Fáilte Ireland are currently working with the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade on proposals to develop and modernise this initiative for 2026 onwards. This work will focus on opportunities to onboard other strategic partners and continue to connect with the Irish abroad.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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35. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to consider in conjunction with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland hosting and supporting an annual international conference for our diaspora, whereby business ideas can be discussed and companies encouraged to set up and invest in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44843/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Our approach to our diaspora has always been, and will continue to be, focused on supporting the most vulnerable members of the global Irish community. The diaspora also play an important role in Ireland’s international engagement, as key partners in delivering on the government’s trade, tourism and investment objectives in priority markets.

The new Government Action Plan on Market Diversification, published last month, commits to deepening that partnership, developing a more strategic approach to Irish business networks and nurturing the next generation of Irish business leaders overseas. This will be a focus of the next Diaspora Strategy and will be informed by the Action Plan.

I am continuing an extensive consultation process to inform the development of our next Diaspora Strategy, which will launch at the Global Irish Civic Forum in April 2026. The forum will provide an opportunity for representatives of Irish organisations across the world to meet with officials in my Department, and other State Agencies, to discuss issues of concern and interest to Irish people overseas. I intend for one of the themes of the forum to focus on developing partnerships with diaspora business organisations and look at how we can work together to support and scale-up Irish businesses.